Happy 13th Birthday, Lauren!

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I love my niece, Lauren so very much! Today, she is officially a teenager. She is THIRTEEN years old!

 Such a beautiful baby girl.

 Lauren and her wonderful mama (my sister), Kelly! And JJ (my daddy) is behind them. This picture was taken at Lauren' 3rd birthday party. Cutest party ever.

 Lauren, I cannot believe you are thirteen. You are the most bright and cheerful ray of sunshine. You are such a beautiful dancer and have many other God given talents! Whenever anyone is around you, they cannot help but smile. I know I say this frequently, but always remember that your aunt Mer will always be there for you! You are the best niece in the entire world, and I love you!

Lauren Fielding

Easter 2015

 

Love you lots! Jackson says hi too and gives you hugs and kisses!

XOXO,

Aunt Meredith

Happy 1st Birthday, Jackson Randolph!

Wow, wow, wow! Today is April 21, 2015. Our sweet baby boy, Jackson, is officially ONE year old! It truly FLEW by. We celebrated with a birthday party on Saturday (post soon), and Jackson got to enjoy cake and spend time with friends and family.

 The three of us!

 

Dear Jackson,

Oh, my sweet blond, curly headed boy. You are such a tremendous JOY to your Daddy and I. April 21, 2014 was one of the best days of our lives. Even though the C-section was an unplanned one and a little scary, once your Daddy and I heard your very first cry, we knew, I knew as your mommy, that it was all worth it. I truly always knew from the beginning of the journey to bring you into this world that it was all going to be worth it someday. It has been that and MORE.

 You were born at 5:10 p.m. Here we are as a family of three, just minutes after you were born.

 I waited a long three hours to hold you, and when I did, it took my breath away. We automatically connected and you made my heart ten times bigger.

 We brought you home a couple of days later and had the best and most perfect times with you as a newborn.

 You loved your snugapuppy rock n play sleeper. Oh, how sweet you are!

 What a dapper little man at only two months old! Mommy loves seersucker on you. :) Summertime was extra special with you, sweet J.

 Your smile melts my heart every time.

 Love this one of you because it definitely captures your personality.

 I think you were extra tired in this picture, but it is still so sweet. Halloween and Fall were oh, so fun!

 Thanksgiving is all about the butter, right? What a funny memory and sweet moment.

 Christmas was perfect with you. Daddy and I can't wait to tell you all about Christmas and share about Jesus' birth. What Jesus wants for Christmas is you!

 Mommy loved dressing you up this past year for sure! My handsome boy!

 We also have many pajama days at home, when we just get all of your toys out of the toy box and have a hay day! :) You always enjoy that.

 Yummy! You love to eat pretty much any foods! I think you had spaghetti the night I took this picture of you. You loved it!

 Easter was also very special. We loved dressing you up! I remember when Aunt Kelly gave you this Peter Rabbit onesie last Easter. I am so glad you got to wear it. We can't wait to tell you about how Jesus died for you so you can be saved!

Jackson, you are such a beautiful boy. You always make me smile in more ways than one. I am so proud of you already and cannot wait to see what the future holds for you. You have been practicing walking with your walker this week and balancing too. Growing every day! Today, you giggled so much that it made me tear up a little. Tears of JOY! I will always be praying for you in your life and know that God has BIG plans for you! Always follow the Lord and HE will direct your steps.

Know I will always be there for you.

I Love You Forever

I'll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

Love,

Mommy

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 Jeremiah 29:11-13

Get Real Mom's Event

I had the opportunity to go to "Get Real Mom's Event" that our church put on last month. It was absolutely wonderful and I will use so much wisdom that I got from it.

 I thought this was a cute welcome for us.

 

 They gave out "favorite things" during Friday night and Saturday morning. Look at this ginormous cookie! Thanks to sweet Susan for making these for everyone! It was soo yummy! We also got an FBC bag, M & M's, EOS lip balm, a calendar, bible study for March, and more!

 The praise and worship was great too.

 Cari Trotter!

 There were also mini breakout sessions. They were all wonderful.

 Lisa and Jason led the breakout session about building blocks of discipline. I got so much out of it and could not wait to share with Russell all I learned.

 I had the wonderful privilege to meet Cari Trotter. She is so precious and so authentic to everyone she meets and took time to get to know everyone!

Here's our group of Sunday school ladies! Natalie, Rhyanne, and me, Mandy, Nicole, Kelsey, Lisa, and Kari. It is such a blessing to know all of them. Such sweet friends.

This was my first mom's event to attend and it was incredible. We also learned so much about praying for your husband and your children. There was so much awesome info I will have to share when I have more time. :)

Hope y'all are having a wonderful day!

 

In God, whose word I praise-in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:4

Celebrating Russell's Birthday

So....it is now March and I can honestly say that February flew by so fast I didn't even make time to blog. I will try to catch up soon!

Russell turned 31 on February 1st, and here's how we celebrated!

 We went to church that morning and then Russell opened his gifts. Jackson was happy to help.

 They are so fun and cute!

 Russell and his gifts.

 We got to hang out with Mandy and Chad while the super bowl was on. It was so fun and Jackson loved playing with Eden and Ezra.

 Cute kiddos.

 Our little family.

 Mandy and me!

 Russell's birthday cake with all the candles!

"Happy Birthday, to you!" We had a great time together and fun time with our sweet friends!

 

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

Two Birthday Girls

A couple of weeks ago, Jackson went to TWO birthday parties in one day!

 First, we went to Abbey's 1st birthday party. We had such fun!

 We gave her a "My Pretty Lamp" and it was so cute to see her watch it light up.

 Ezra and Jackson are such good buddies!

 In between the parties, we stopped at Crystal Bridges restaurant, "Eleven," for lunch. It was so good. Oh, I love him! 

 My boys are so handsome!

 Russell and I shared this heart shaped shortbread cookie for dessert.

 Jackson Randolph is such a sweet baby boy!

 Harper's 1st birthday party was next. We loved seeing everyone there.

 Susan and Susan holding Jackson and Harper. So cute!

It was so cute watching Harper open gifts as well. Thanks for the fun, Abbey and Harper! :)

When we got home, Jackson took a long nap. Going to these birthday parties was a big reminder that he will have a birthday party in a few short months...his FIRST birthday. I am in denial...just a tad! :) He will always be my baby, no matter what age.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Jackson and Mommy's 1st Road Trip!

So my sister and her family are moving soon and Jackson and I had to come check out the city and their new house! I was pretty nervous to drive because it was, honestly, the first time I drove on a long road trip with sweet J. But, we left early in the morning and headed to OK.

 We stopped by Kelly, Eric, Logan and Lauren's new house they will move in soon. Jackson and Lauren were little buddies the whole trip. :)

 Eric was out of town when J and I were there, but we gave Kelly and Eric a special anniversary book for their 20th wedding anniversary! Logan and Lauren loved showing Kelly the book. She was so surprised.

 Before we went to dinner, we took Jackson's 9 month pictures. OMG I cannot believe he is now NINE and a half months old. How wild!

 I love this!

 Kelly and I went shopping and had such fun!

 We had lunch at one of Ree Drummond's favorite places and both had this yummy grilled cheese! It did not disappoint one bit!

 So cute!

 Jackson was such a good boy the whole day. Little boys aren't too fond of shopping, but he didn't complain at all. :)

 

 Oh, bless his heart! He really wanted that cheeseburger. HA!

 I just love them!

I love seeing my sister play with Jackson. It is the sweetest thing ever.

Aunt Kelly and Jackson's selfie! Jackson sure does know how to smile and say cheese! :)

We truly did have a wonderful time together and will definitely be back to OK very soon!

 

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Psalm 5:11