Kids Exchange

It has been a whirlwind of a week! We've jumped right back into the madness at Journey with construction & preparation for the fall. On top of the madness at Journey, we've had a lot going on at home...getting caught up on laundry from the beach, cleaning house, babysitting for friends, & preparing for Laney's birthday party on Saturday.

I knew the Raleigh Kid's Exchange Consignment sale was going on at the fair grounds this week, but I really didn't think I'd have time to make it. I really wanted to...because obviously we have NOTHING for a little boy, we needed another carseat for Laney at school, and we're gonna need a double stroller soon. I contemplated all week trying to go and then yesterday a friend from church that was selling stuff offered her extra shopping pass to shop a day earlier than the public. Today was hectic, but I was determined to go...even if were just to look for the bigger items we need: a carseat & double stroller. I've had friends tell me about the awesome deals on clothes & toys they've gotten, but I knew I wouldn't have much time for that today (which I'm beating myself up for now because I could have shopped another 2 hours and gotten some really awesome deals on clothes for the kids.) The last time they had the kids exchange, I went the last day and didn't really find much, so today was a TOTALLY different experience! 

Here's what I came home with...

 A BRAND NEW carseat for Laney to have at her babysitter's house...I paid $50! It probably runs for about $120 in stores.

 A few things for Benjamin...a BRAND NEW fleece jacket, with tags on it...some overalls (all little boys need them!), some pjs, and a few onesies...yes, I got him a halloween onesie...he's born in October, he has to have it!

 A few things for Laney...a winter jacket, a little Christmas dress, a pair of jeans & a cute top.

Little people farmhouse! Laney is going to be so excited when we give this to her. Matt's parents still have the one he played with when he was little and she LOVES it. We've been looking for one for our house, but they sell for about $40 in stores and we had already gotten her a little people dollhouse to give her for her birthday Saturday... this one was $12 in excellent condition...still makes noises & has the pieces.

Overall I spent $100...not too bad for my 1st trip to the Kid's Exchange considering the carseat itself would have cost more than that. I'm looking forward to more shopping adventures at the Kid's Exchange and hopefully I'll be able to make a few more consignment sales between now and when Benjamin comes!

What's everyone up to this weekend? Like I said, we're celebrating Laney's birthday Saturday evening. She's having a ladybug picnic themed party...I'm super excited, I love planning parties and I can't wait to see Laney dig into her cake! Stay tuned, pictures to come!

Vacation 2012

For the 1st time in 2 years we got to spend a WHOLE WEEK at the beach and it was GLORIOUS!  We had planned back in January to spend half the week with Matt's family at Carolina Beach and half the week with my family at North Myrtle. It didn't work out quite the way we wanted, so we ended up spending most of the week at Carolina Beach, but we did get to spend 1 day with my family at North Myrtle.

We spent lots of time on the beach, played in Laney's kiddie pool, slept, ate a lot of Brit's doughnuts, took lots of pictures, celebrated Laney's 1st birthday, road the ferry to Southport for Provisions, and had the best week of vacation we've had in a while! It was definitely a much needed trip with all of the changes we've had in the past year and the many more to come between now and the end of this year. Laney had a blast & did not let the sand bother her a bit...she LOVED the ocean & "jumping waves" with her daddy. We took SO many pictures, and that's probably the best way to share about our trip...Just warning you...there's a lot. I can't just pick a few, there's too many good ones! I'll share some now & some in a second post later when I have time to dump pictures from my camera.

Laney is ONE!

My sweet Laney turned ONE today! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by, I know...I know...all of you other moms out there are thinking "you just wait!" But seriously, what a year! Matt & I have been so blessed with this sweet little girl to love on! I've been a slacker at blogging this year...so here's a few things about my Laneybug...

Her nickname has always been "Laneybug." She is such a HAPPY little girl and rarely cries...she cries if she is mad or if she is hurting. She loves to wave at anyone and seriously will go to anyone (yes, I know...we need to work on this as not all strangers are nice). She loves to sing & she loves to dance. Her favorite songs are "Singles Ladies" by Beyonce or Lecrae's "Jesus Musik." If she hears either of these songs, she will dance no matter what mood she is in or what she is doing. She loves to flip too...I know she'll either be a dancer or a gymnast because she is happiest when she is moving. She loves animals, especially dogs. Her 1st word was "dog" and she LOVES playing with our miniature dachshund, Molly. She can also say "dada," "mama," "nana," "bird," "yes," "that," and "this." She can sign "more," "all done," and "milk." She can shake her head "no" and when we ask her who loves her she can point at the picture of Jesus on her bible and then mommy and daddy. We've been teaching her this since she was born and we pray she always remembers it.  Laney's teacher at "school" says she loves to learn and we see it everyday. She's very inquisitive and likes trying new things. She may only be 16 or 17 lbs, but she's been eating table food almost as long as she's been eating things besides milk. She refused to eat baby food anymore at 8 months old so we started feeding her fruits & veggies...she loves to eat! Her favorite foods are green beans, tomatoes, & cucumbers. At 12 months old, she only wears 6-12 months clothes, but being little doesn't stop her. She's not walking by herself yet, although she has taken her 1st steps and can pretty much run with a little assistance. She'll be walking on her own before we know it. She can definitely craw like nobody's business!  Laney loves the beach (just like her mommy & daddy) and she likes to swing at the park. She is sweet, she loves to share (yes, I know this because she loves giving me her toys when we play)...

I could go on & on about my sweet Laney, but she is such a blessing to Matt & I. This year has been quite the learning experience, but I wouldn't take back one moment. I love her more everyday and I look forward to seeing how God grows my sweet girl in the next year! I love you Laney Marie and your daddy does too!!! 

30 minutes old, Rex Hospital... 7/10/11, 6 lbs, 12 oz and about 19 inches.
She was born at 3:10 pm.

She enjoyed her day with toys, naps, a boat ride to Southport, Provisions Company
for dinner, and a chocolate birthday cake at our beach house to top off her day!

Vacationing...Blog siesta over?

We're vacationing at Carolina Beach this week, it's been a few years since I spent a week at the beach so I am super excited we are here. We originally had planned to spend 1/2 the week with my family & 1/2 the week with Matt's family, but unfortunately it didn't work out for my family to come down so we're spending the week with the Keith's. We'll try again next year, but in the meantime we're planning to rest, relax, have family time, go on a date night, and enjoy Laney's 1st birthday celebrating at the beach. I'd also like to get a handle of my computer (bc the files are a HOT mess) & possibly start blogging again...in honor of Laney turning 1, I'd love to get my blog up and going again. I used to LOVE to blog & find time to do it...but...we've had A LOT of changes in our family since Laney was born & I let my blog suffer. Of course...with the commitment that when we have MORE changes in our family in October.

A Must Read...

Hello Blog world...it's been a while. I've haven't successfully kept up with my blog since I became a mom, but I'd like to fix that soon.

While I haven't had much time for blogging, I've still tried to keep up with blog of a few close friends. One of which, is by my friend Tasha, which if you follow me on twitter or your friends with me on facebook...is my dear friend who went through a very long process and lots of struggles to get their sweet adopted daughter, Alethia,  home from Uganda a few months ago. Last week Tasha wrote a blog post that really encouraged me and I don't think she would mind if I share it...She wrote about having "her time" in the mornings...spending time with the Lord and doing whatever else her little heart desires before her children are awake. She wrote about Jesus two greatest commands given to his disciples...love God, which means getting to know him personally AND love your neighbor as yourself. I don't want to take away from Tasha's blog, but basically she helped me realize that I can't love other people on a daily basis if I'm not taking time to love myself...have "me time" along with my Jesus time everyday. This means I have to get up at 5:30 in the mornings, so that I can have an hour to myself before we get Laney up and going for the day. This is HUGE for me, but I know it would make all the difference in the world in the way I love Matt, Laney and all of the other people I come in contact with everyday...

Now...go read Tasha's blog and see how wonderful of a writer she is and just maybe you'll be inspired too! http://tashavia.blogspot.com/2012/04/wisdom-to-live-by.html

God's Curveball...

God's in control...that's a statement that I've confidently lived by for quite sometime. I mean I grew up learning it, I've taught it to others and I've lived it.

He'll never give us more than we can handle...another statement that I know, grew up knowing, have taught others and lived.


God threw us a curveball last month. A HUGE curveball, but a good curveball.

A month ago, we found out that despite what we were planning for...God has bigger plans for us and our little family.

So....are you ready???

A month ago, we found that Laney is going to be a big sister at the end of September/beginning of October.

Yep...that's right...another Keith baby is on it's way!!!

Call us crazy and laugh that Laney is only 8 months old. It was totally not in our plans to have another sweet little baby so soon, in fact it was not even a thought to have another baby anytime soon. But regardless...God knows best and he has a plan for our family. We are excited about this new life we've been blessed to parent.

Of course we are scared. Of course we have worries. Of course we have NO idea what we're doing... Of course people have called us crazy and said all kinds of things...

But it doesn't matter, we serve an awesome God with big plans and we are blessed beyond measure with the life and the family he has given us! :)

Growing

It's been a while since I wrote a post, it has been a whirlwind around here. We've been super busy just doing life & trying to figure out things since I am staying home. It's been a lot bigger of an adjustment than I thought it would be...not just because I'm not teaching or because we've gone from 2 incomes to 1.

I never thought it would be so hard to stay at home. I love, love, love my Laney and I am thankful to be staying at home with her. I look forward to teaching her new things & being around for all of her "firsts..." I've been doing the home school thing & the Mary Kay thing and they are both great...they give me something to do and keep me busy. But honestly, I miss teaching. I miss greeting my students, seeing them "get it," grading papers (I know...I'm weird), interacting with parents, and just allowing the Lord to work through me to minister to middle schoolers as I teach them English & History. I know that I could easily get a job teaching if I tried to go back right now, but the thought of putting Laney in daycare kills me. I have never felt so strongly about anything in my life. I know it's God's will for me to be staying home with my sweet girl. Matt & I both felt this calling back when we found out we were expecting a year ago. Sure, it's been a stretch for us but we both know I am supposed to stay home.
 This is one of those times in life when I know God is teaching me & really stretching me.

I am so thankful that he's provided a way to stay home & a husband that is receptive to God's will. I've also been surrounded by a lot of great friends that have been home with their kids for a while & their stories of transitioning from work to staying home has been a great encouragement to me. It's so awesome to know I'm not the only one that's ever felt the way I do.


More to come later about what I'm learning...Laney's crying, nap time is over :)

ps- Gotta share a picture of my girl, I'm growing spiritually and she's growing physically!