A big change is coming

Our little family is about to embark on a major change, one which I know God is completely and totally in charge of. This weekend Drew, Everett and I are moving out of the house we have made a home in and are moving across town in with my Mom.

This is a change that we have prayed about for a long time. Knowing that the living situation with Mom and Nana needed to change and that we were in need of more space this solution is God's answer to months of stress and prayer. That being said, I am not an easy customer for change even when it is doubling our living space and giving us room to expand. I will be sad to leave the house Drew and I spent time as newlyweds in and then brought our precious baby boy home to. The house we spent nights hanging out with our friends in and sleepless nights wondering if we would ever sleep again in after Everett refused to. This sweet little house has given us so many amazing memories and precious moments together.

Our new situation will have a lot of benefits. I will get to be in one place and not spending my days traveling back and forth between Mom's house and mine. I won't worry so much about how she is doing or what she is doing or how Nana is handling her when I am away and can hopefully be more "present" for my days. Of course with the benefits there always comes challenges. Mom will most definitely be a challenge. Her attitude always seems to be better when she is around me and Everett always makes her smile. Drew has a very special relationship with Mom and makes her laugh more than anyone. For these things I am thankful and know that even though we will have hard days, long days there will be moments of laughter and happiness and for that I am excited. Above all Drew and I consider it an honor that we get to spend time helping Mom and taking care of her for as long as we can. I will treasure the memories Everett will make with his Nana and the gift he will have growing up with her in his home and the compassion he will learn from caring for those in need. Throughout all the good and bad days we will continue to trust that this is God's plan and that his plan is perfect for us and our family.

I am most grateful for Drew and his compassionate heart. His willingness and insistence that we move in with Mom and help her as best we can. I married a true winner and man after God's own heart! He has a heart for helping Mom and loving her like his own. He gives me strength and laughter when I feel like I have none left in me.

I am beyond thankful to my Nana and her sacrifice the past 4 years as she has given every single moment of her day to care for Mom in her declining health. Nana has given unconditional love, sleepless nights, and exhausting days one after another amongst more  so that we didn't have to take on such a challenge before we felt ready. Nana has fiercely protected Drew and I's time as a newly married couple and then new parents by giving her own life to care for Mom. This sacrifice I can never begin to thank her enough for.  I pray that as Nana moves into a new chapter of her life, living on her own for the first time, and reconnecting with the things she loves and has put aside to care for Mom that she will find happiness and a new joy for life. And also know that I will always and forever need her help and support!

So if you think to keep our family in your prayers as we embark on changes following the path God has laid out before us!

Everett 17 months

Oh our little Everett is 17 months old and absolutely FULL of personality!! He has become quite the expert walker and is really enjoying his version of running. Everett is into everything, I mean EVERYTHING!

Everett has gotten a few spankings lately for misbehaving but we are learning to pick our battles with him. He is also learning how to wrap his parents around his fingers with a sweet little smile... we are in trouble for sure.

Everett remains the sweetest little boy. He makes everyone laugh around him and usually gives out sugars to those who ask, unless he thinks you want them too much then he makes you wait. He loves to wave to anyone and everyone.

Everett has a little bear, named Meyer, whom he has gotten very clingy too. He has slept with him for the past several months and is now carrying him everywhere with him and will not get out of his bed without him. I secretly love it!

 

I love bedtime and nap time but I miss you so much when you are sleeping my little love. You continue to make everyday and absolute adventure! I am ridiculously blessed to be your Mom and am so grateful for the opportunity to stay home with you everyday! I love you so much little bear!!

Our very own little Walker

We had a Great 4th of July spent at our Powell Family Reunion here in Amarillo. Drew and Everett got to meet family from Nana's side that I haven't seen in years and we had a wonderful time catching up. But the best part of our 4th came later that evening when our little bear FINALLY decided to walk!!

Everett, my love,  you take your time and do things at your own pace. For the past 6 months I have been watching you work on your walking skills but not wanting to take the leap for more than 5 or 6 steps on  your own. Your doctor credited this to your amazing crawling skills and you being comfortable getting around so quickly crawling you haven't felt the need to walk. You spent the past few days watching your little relative Issac walk around and you must have gotten motivated. During our family meal at Ruby Tequila's you were outside playing with your Dad and took off walking. You are the cutest little walker I have ever seen and I am so proud of you!! As your Aunt Cindy said she didn't think your personality could blossom any more but you have flourished even more since learning to walk.  I love seeing  you take risks and challenging yourself with new things! I love and adore you! Let the chasing begin!

Hiking in the Canyon

While Ryan was in town we took a little outing to Palo Duro Canyon. Drew had only been once in his life and Ryan hadn't been in many many years. We loaded up Mom, Everett and the three of us in the car and hit the canyon road.

First up was a little splashing in the creek which was full of water from all of our recent rains. Drew and I got Everett in and shortly behind us Mom came plunging in. She kept saying "I love this, I love this place" and "can we stay forever here." It was pretty precious! We then took a short little hike down a path and Everett got to ride on his Dad and Uncle Ryan's shoulders the whole way. It was a quick little outing but we all enjoyed it... especially Mom who can't wait to go back.

 

 Clearly Everett was not a big fan of the creek and yes we do look a little redneck.

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day 2015

As far as Father's go Everett has one of the best! I love to watch Everett's eyes light up when his Dada comes home and Drew's are shining just as bright!! These two are nuts over one another and I couldn't be prouder. Drew is such a loving and devoted Dad and never balks at changing diapers. He can always make Everett laugh harder than anyone else and has a special way of making playing all the more fun! They are two peas in a pod, not to mention how they look exactly like one another!
So Happy Father's Day to our favorite Dad! We wouldn't want to do life without you! We love you!!

 

Little Family Photo Session

The past few weeks have been super busy around here. Patrick got engaged to Taren Bullock and we are beginning wedding planning and celebrations there. We love Taren and are so excited she will be becoming a part of our family. I truly couldn't have asked for a better girl for Patrick!

We celebrated Sweet Kelsey's High School Graduations, pictures and post to come. And we received a surprise visit from Ryan!! It has been almost 2 years since we have seen Ryan or his family. We last got together in New Orleans just before they left for Hawaii. Ryan came in just in time for Kelsey's graduation so for several days my Mom got to have all three of her kids together in one place! Of course I had to document the occasion with a quick little photo session. It was a little difficult to work with a timer and get Mom and Everett to look at the camera but I think we got a few keepers from the mix!

15 month old boy!

Sweet Everett turned 15 months on Wednesday! We celebrated with shots and he didn't even cry.

Everett is weighing in at 25.6 lbs, 31 inches long, 87 and 93 percentiles respectively. He is doing all things that are expected of a 15 month old including getting around by himself (still not officially walking although he has taken a few steps on his own) and recognizing all sorts of objects. He has also added "ball" and "dog" to his vocabulary although he only says it when he feels like it and usually not for an audience other than Mom and Dad. Everett has a ferocious appetite which has involved picking around his veggies lately. Recently he has discovered a love of a classic PB&J sandwich and enjoys eating them with his Nana (my Mom).

We have seen a few tantrums from our little bear, usually when he can't be held and wants to be or when he isn't getting to eat what he thinks he needs. These tantrums involve a scrunched up face and flinging himself backwards, a nice preview of what is to come I am sure. Everett is "sharing" things with adults, not so much kiddos yet, he likes to hand out snacks or his sippee cup to whomever is nearby. We have baby proofed all cabinets, drawers, the toilet and screen door all of which he mastered opening before we got this done. Everett is fast... I mean a FAST crawler. If not in a contained area do not turn around because he will be gone in a flash. Drew and Everett's Gran-Nana have both fallen victim to his speed recently. Everett is a big lover and gets enjoyment from sharing his kisses with anyone and everyone except the person who is asking the most for them, he usually makes that person suffer while he kisses everyone else and then chuckles at their loss.

Everett is still an excellent sleeper, going down for 12 hours a night and then taking a two hour nap... I am blessed! His favorite book right now is a Jesus loves me book that sings out loud. He barely has anything to do with his walker unless Norah is over and they can bumper car together. Everett loves to swing outside and will quickly laugh when his Dad jumps out of the way of the swing saying "ouch" like he got hit. Everett loves this little game. Everett loves to look out the window and screen doors and most particularly when it is time for his Dad to come home. I tell him to watch for Dada and he goes to his spot, as soon as Drew pulls up he begins jumping up and down on his knees and waving his arms. But when Drew comes in the door Everett crawls away to "hide" a game he also thinks is so fun!

Our sweet boy is going full time to the nursery at church and even though he cries when we leave him we are told it doesn't last long and he enjoys his time.  Everett has always been an observer of things around him and this continues. He is a full on flirt... we cannot go anywhere where people are not giving him attention and telling how precious he is. He greets all of this with his wrinkled nose face, some aren't sure if he is going to cry which he never does, and sometimes a little snort. If Everett is not getting attention from strangers around him he seems to think something is wrong and begins to seek it out. Recently at a graduation event for Kelsey, Everett realized there were rows of people sitting behind us and stood up in my arms waving and making faces to entertain them. To the man to our left who was not paying attention he leaned over and stuck his head out until he got the attention he wanted. We have a full on entertainer... he is a lot like his Nana.

Everett my love you are your Father and I's absolute Love and Joy! We miss you when you sleep or are away from us. We love to watch you grow and discover the world around you. You make us laugh harder than anything else. You love us unconditionally and give us all the kisses and hugs we want. You continue to be a sweet and easy baby. We take you anywhere and everywhere and with the exception of you learning to use your voice and wanting to be on the move at all times you are an excellent companion. We are madly in love with you little bear! Thank you for letting us love on you and be  your parents!