Relaxing visit in Fort Walton

I decide to take Landon to visit with my parents and have a few days to rest and recharge. I could tell I was just too stressed. I want to be as good and patient as possible for Landon and to support Josh.
My parents played with Landon most of the time while I caught up on some mission work, scrapbooked, watched movies, went swimming and enjoyed spending time with Landon and them. My parents also took us out to lunch and went shopping. Landon and I got spoiled with presents. He especially loves the new book he got, I think because of all the animals but it has a picture of a kitten he LOVES! I think right now cats are his favorite animal.
We also had a chance to go visit my Aunt Leah and her puppies. We also saw dolphins while visited Leah. She live on the bayou and so the dolphins come through there just about everyday. I don’t know if Landon realized what he was seeing but I love watching the dolphins bop up and down out of the water. It looked like they were after the mullet.
Jessica offered to come with me with was a great help since I was nervous to take a 5 hour drive with Landon by my self. We left Wednesday night so I visited with the Williams family at church for a bit before we headed home.
Thanks Mom and Dad!

Ketchup

I have missed posting about a couple of visits from friends and also some other fun stuff so I am going to catch up

The Williams family came down twice in May. Once for Jessica’s graduation and the second time so all the girls and Landon could go to a Women’s conference.

Jessica is officially graduated with her Masters. Unfortunately for everyone Josh, Landon and I were SO sick. Josh, Landon and I missed out on Jessica walking but we made it there afterward for a few pictures and lunch. We were in bed most of the time and Josh worked as much as he could even though he was running a fever. Josh is blessed he has a wonderful dad and brother, plus Carter (a family friend) to help him with a lot of his work. As for me it was so nice to be able to sleep and not have to worry about Landon if he wasn’t sleeping because there were lots of family member and hand around to hold him and entertain him. Within the time they were here Jessica became sick, in the middle of her graduation, and most of the rest of the Williams became sick within a day or two of leaving Gainesville.

Jessica, Jamiie, Kaili, Mom, Landon and I went to a women’s conference the next weekend the Williams came down. The boys stayed at home slept, played computer games and helped Josh with work. The conference was really nice. Pam Tebow’s mother was the guest speaker. She talked about motherhood and being a wife. We also all got a massage which was SO AMAZING! They had break out sessions and one of the sessions included a 15 min massage. This really should be something at all women’s conferences because what mother, wife, women doesn’t need a great massage every once in a while? The rest of the weekend we enjoyed each other,played in the pool and went to Joe’s Place (the official Williams Gainesville dinning place) plus Josh’s favorite Chinese buffet.

Playing in the pool

Reesie who is very unhappy about everyone being here

Jessica, Jeremiah, Jamiie Jo, Kaili, Carter, and Mom

Sleeping

Playing with Jeremiah

My parents came down for an early Mother’s day and to visit with us. It was nice to have them visit again. We hung out at the house and they played with Landon while I got some things done around the house. We went out to eat at a few places they had not tried and ran errands. I was really glad they were able to visit.

Landon enjoying his food

Mom and Dad

Landon, Jessica and I got to meet up with a friend of ours a couple of weeks ago. Ashlee was drive back from Niceville back to Orlando. Landon loves Ashlee (I think it is because she is so little he can relate, sorry Ashlee I had to make the short joke and for whose of you who don't know Ashlee she is only 1 inch taller than a little person). We had lunch at the mall and enjoyed catching up with each other.

Good Day

Lately I have been stressed. I try not to be and I need to pray more about it because it always helps. Just money, chores, and everyday life have been wearing me out. Josh has been working 6-7 days a week for about 2 months now. I know lots of families have to do that for years (I am praying that it doesn’t happen for years) but it is just hard not getting to see your husband very much. I really think that is why everything else has been getting to me. I depend on him to be my stress relief. Landon is a great way to forget for a moment but he also is a lot of work (granted I would not trade this work for anything in the world!)

Today was a good day though. The house was clean, Josh didn’t have to go to work until the afternoon, Landon’s friend Kai and his mom Louise came over to play for a little bit this morning. When Josh went to work Landon and I went outside to say good bye to him. It was really nice, not too hot and not RAINING! (it has rained for about a week and half everyday here) Landon loves being outside. I decide I would take some pictures. It felt so good to just relax outside.

It doesn’t fix everything but I needed today. I will continue to pray more and try to remember everything I have that is wonderful in my life.

I HAVE A TOOTH!

You can't see it here but I have my first tooth!

Finally after 4 months of teething!

Landon updates- 8 Months

Mr. Trouble playing in the dog food (which has now been moved)

Landon knows how to pull out his basket of toys from the book shelf

Mom, I WANT that camera!

Look at me, I stood up!

I love to chew on tags.

I know how to sit on my own

Hello!

Helping Mom and Jessica get some garage sale items ready for the Thailand Yard Sale
He had so much fun this day. He stood in that container for about an hour, most of the time laughing and smiling. I think he loved that he could stand up without fear of hurting himself.

Landon has started to figure out how to eat Cheerios on his own.

Landon can sit on his own and get to the crawling position without any help.

He will lift himself up on all fours (in baby crawl stance) he just needs to figure out how to move.

Landon is pulling up. He is not very good at it but he is very persistent and about 50-60% of the time he succeeds.

Landon loves to feed himself, bread, cucumbers and so on, anything big enough to hold and easy enough to eat.

He loves to share his food, which we are trying to encourage the sharing but who wants to eat a soggy piece of bread?

Landon loves to play hide and seek. He will even hide his face to initiate it.

Landon loves to be scared (being surprised, scary faces, or scary voices, but hates Tickle Me Elmo, go figure!). I have a strange kid! I guess he gets that from his Dad, the love of being scared, the strangeness I am sure is from both of us!

He loves to explore and is fast at doing it. I will put him on the ground and walk out of the room for a minute and he will be across the house.

He loves when people talk. So He even likes watching the news with Daddy.

He knows he needs to lift up his feet to go up stairs. (I find the so interested especially since he can’t walk)

Mom

Plumb, a Christian artist, wrote a great reminder not to be frustrated times as a mom when it seems like you have no time to your self.

I haven't had
A chance to sleep
And when I wake
I wake with your dreams
I guess my pillow
Holds some kind of key
To your peace
Your peace
Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me
I haven't showered
And I tried to eat
But all your tears
Oh they needed me
I need some time, some time to think
But when I hear you
And what you need is...
Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me
I wash your face
To make room for
All the kisses
Of tomorrow
And every day
That I get to
Be here with you
Is sweet
Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me
Oh don't be afraid
Cause you'll have is....
Me

It can be frustrating being a mom with so little time to your slef but isn't it amazing that God has placed that love and responsibility on us.

By the way, Plumb writes a lot of good songs for Moms.

Landon updates- 7 months (a few weeks late)

Mom has been really busy and keeps trying to tell everyone about me. I thought I would help her out by at least posting some pictures and videos. I am getting big so fast, hopefully I will be as tall as my Daddy. Mommy and Daddy are teaching me new things everyday.

I want to try that!

I love drinking water

Bath time cuddling is my favorite

I am helping Mom with laundry

My best bud, Chang

Daddy is so silly! I love bath time with him.