Picture Dilemma

Ok - so I have scheduled our first family photo shoot for 2 weeks from today! It's going to be for our Christmas cards, but it will be our first professional family picture. Vince and I haven't even had professional pictures done, so this should be fun! My dilemma is what should we wear?! We are definitely a casual type of family, although Vince's definition of casual and mine are different!! We'll be doing a Christmas picture for our Christmas cards (and generally to have a family shot) and then we'll be getting some of Elijah. Any suggestions on good clothing options?!

Happy Birthday Vince

Well, this is one day late, but I wanted to wish my wonderful husband a very happy birthday! We celebrated on Saturday with his brother and his family and went out to PF Chang's (Vince's favorite restaurant) and it was yummy! We had cake and ice cream at home and Wesley helped me decorate the cake. It was a great time with family. Yesterday was Vince's birthday and we had church and then grocery shopping, so it was a pretty quiet day. Of course, I didn't get any pictures, but here's a picture of us that was taken while I was pregnant, but I really like the picture of us! Happy birthday baby! I love you so much and can't wait to spend many more birthdays together!!! I love you!

Elijah's shoes!

This weekend I put shoes on Elijah that we had gotten free at a yard sale! I couldn't resist with his little outfit! He wasn't too sure about them at first, but soon learned to deal with them! Everyone was saying how cute he was when we were out to eat this weekend for Vince's birthday.

Elijah's New Toy!

This weekend we were at Wal-Mart and saw something that we knew Elijah would love, but we didn't want to wait until Christmas to get it for him since he could use it now! He has a Johnny-Jump-up, but we can only put it in 3 places in the house - one is in the kitchen, which is good for meals. The other 2 places are really not useful (den doorway, which if he grows another inch, he wouldn't be able to use it, and then the entry way to the stairs - no heat/air in the entry way, so he would freeze!). SO, we got one of the bouncy seat things that is like an exersaucer and bouncy all in one! He LOVES it! He was going to town in it last night and Vince has informed me that he has already been in it today for over an hour each time! Great entertainment for all!!!

Fun times with Wesley

This weekend we were able to have our nephew over for the night. Wesley has stayed with us before and only lives 15 minutes from us, but he looks forward to staying with us for a night here and there. It's his reward for good behavior around his home. He knows that if he acts up or gets in a fight with his sister (what little brother DOESN'T do this!) that the deal is off! He does SO great with Elijah and Elijah LOVES his cousin! I only got one picture of Elijah with Wesley, but I got some pictures of Elijah with Wesley's stuffed animals!!!

He's definitely his father's son!!!

Guess it was a long day!

Vince and I were in the kitchen eating dinner while Elijah was bouncing away in his jump-up. After a little while (and after conversation) we noticed that it had gotten quiet in the kitchen. We looked over towards Elijah, and this is what we saw:



Poor little guy! He's teething something fierce and isn't getting in really good naps because of this, so needless to say, he was tuckered out! Isn't he just so precious?!

Some random pictures of my cutie-pie!

Yes, He IS Mr. Popular!



"I'm sitting here all by myself!"



"I'm not sitting by myself anymore!"



"Look at me standing in my jump-up!"



"Oh, HI! You snuck up on me!"



"I love my jump-up!"

In a funk. . . ..

I've been in a funk this week. Not totally sure where it's all coming from, but I'm in a funk nonetheless. I've really been struggling with working and being away from Elijah. Call it separation anxiety, I'm not sure. The other night, I got home from work (late) and got Vince's dinner ready so he could head out to class. I was hanging out with Elijah all night, and then Vince got home from class and he came to get Elijah to give him hugs and such, and I started crying - I didn't want him to take him from me! I mean, my reasoning was that he was home with Elijah all day - he's mine now :-)

Work has been crazy too - I have A LOT of added responsibilities that I wasn't planning on taking on, but have been thrown into. On one hand it's nice to have the director's confidence that I can complete the tasks, but on the other hand, I don't want the added tasks! (Bad attitude I know - I'm just already busy enough!) It creates an additional 16-18 meetings a month that I will have to arrange, attend, and keep the minutes for! Not to mention getting handouts together, updating information/clients and travel to the meetings. Thankfully, the meetings will mostly be held in the building I work in, but some will be on a different campus - fun times for all - especially in the winter!!

Maybe it's delayed Post-Partum Depression - anyone else experience that? I know I have an influx of hormones since I have stopped breastfeeding, so I can chalk some of it up to that! But not everything - it's just crazy! So, I'm in a funk. Pray for me!

Happy Halloween!

We didn't dress Elijah up in any fancy costume or anything this year. He's too young to really appreciate the fun of that! We did hand out candy tonight, and it was gone in about 45 minutes! Here's some pictures from the evening!

DADDY AND ELIJAH



"WOW! WHAT IS ALL THAT?!"



"YUM! I THINK I'LL HAVE SOME M&M'S PLEASE!"



"ALL FOR ME?!"



ALL DRESSED UP LIKE A BIG BOY!

Well, we finally did it. . . . .

We bought a mini-van! We never thought that we would be a mini-van family, but after having Elijah, we realized that it's something we needed to do. We found a GREAT deal on a 2007 Hyundai Entourage, slightly used. We traded in Vince's Santa Fe since it was paid off and were able to do a down payment too! I'm so excited about our new van! God is good!

Oh pleeeeaase?

"Please can I stay in here and play?!"

Elijah's 4-Month Photo Shoot

Here are just some of Elijah's pictures from his 4-month photo shoot. He did SUCH a great job! I am so thankful - I was praying all week that he would do well, and he was perfect! It was hard to choose the pictures - they took 92 and they were mostly all great!

Enjoy!

Heading to the Gym!

"I'm ready to work out!"

I couldn't have said it better myself. . . . .

Hello?

"Yes, I'd Like To Order A Large Pizza with Extra Cheese and Mushroom. Thanks!"

A new blogger alert!

Just wanted to let you know that my husband has now joined the blogging world! Here's a link to his blog - he has lots to say!!


http://vincewturner.blogspot.com/

Sleeping Peacefully

I walked into the bedroom the other night after my shower to this sight:



Isn't this just adorable?! I love the 2 men in my life so much!!!

Does it ever get easier?

This is for all those working moms out there (which there doesn't seem to be too many that read this blog). I am still struggling every day with leaving Elijah to go to work! Sundays I cry harder because I know the next day starts the cycle all over again. I cry every morning on my way to work. I am blessed that Elijah stays home with Vince 2-3 days a week and then is with my sister-in-law the rest of the time, but it's still so hard!

So, my question is, does it ever get easier (as everyone says it will)? My desire is to be home with Elijah every day, but unfortunately, we aren't able to do that right now. If I could be a stay-at-home mom, I would in a heartbeat! I have this nagging feeling inside of me that I am not being a good mom because I have to work. Then I have Vince telling me that I AM being a good mom because I'm working to help provide for Elijah and to help provide a roof over our heads, etc etc. I'm just so torn, and struggle!!

I'm sure every working mom has gone through this, so I know I'm not the first, and I know I'm not the last mom to suffer through this. But it's just so hard! I love my little man SO much and just would love to spend every minute with him (if I could!!)

How do you other working moms out there cope??

(Of course I had to end with another cutie picture of my guy!!)

Hold On To Jesus

I recently got this CD for Elijah and I to listen in the car while we're driving to my sister-in-law's house early in the morning when I have to work. I have listened to it a few times, and there is this song on there that is so great! It's called Hold On To Jesus. I had never heard it before, but I think that it should be every mother's (and father's) prayer for their child. To hold onto Jesus despite what is going on in the world, despite what people say. Here are the words:

You’re a little piece of heaven
You’re a golden ray of light
And I wish I could protect you
From the worries of this life
But if there’s one thing I could tell you
It’s no matter what you do
Hold to Jesus
He’s holding on to you.

The world will try to tell you
That might is more than right
That beauty’s on the outside
And being good’s a losing fight
But remember what I’ve told you
Because the world will make you choose
Hold to Jesus
He’s holding on to you.

Hold on to Jesus
Cling to His love
Rest deep in His mercy
Whenever things get rough
Don’t lose sight of His goodness
And don’t ever doubt His truth
That when you hold on to Jesus
He’s holding on to you

Hear me dear Jesus
Rock this little one to sleep
Keep him close when he’s scared
And give him grace when he is weak
I know he’ll stumble
But I know he’ll make it through
If you hold to him just like
You said You’d do
Hold him, Jesus
So he’ll hold on tight to You.

It's such a great song. The whole CD is really good and relaxing. Some well-known worship music scaled down a little bit. If you like music like this, I would highly recommend this CD!