Major Milestone!

My big boy going school shopping with mommy.  Notice Raffie strapped in right beside Landon.

Very excited about getting his school supplies!

Ready for Orientation with Daddy!

Big hug from his brother, who, by the way...misses his big brother immensely!

Now for the first day of school!  Daddy made breakfast to make sure our Kindergartner had a great start!

Ready to leave!  Can you believe that excitement!

Dry. My. Eye.

We all went to Landon's first day with him to show him our family support.  Connor had to wear his backpack (or his rescue pack) too.  Lots of love from his brother!

Love from daddy...and you can see his curiosity looking at all the other Kindergartners!

Landon's School, Woods Charter School.  What a blessing that Landon got into this wonderful school.  We still are pinching ourselves that he actually got in.  He has 16 kids in his class.  His teacher is wonderful!  We have heard nothing but glowing things about her.  Landon is adjusting well and is taking on his new role seemingly very easily.  It was really sweet this morning when I drove him to school, he wanted me to pray for him.  What a sweet time and what a wonderful opportunity to share life with this precious child.

Raffie got lots of loves...and has to stay in the car. (He did end up making it into his backpack yesterday and apparently he came out of the backpack sometime during the day and was placed on top of a shelf until dismissal...I made sure we talked about this and that Raffie would have to stay in the car and he said, "I was just kidding, he didn't come out..."  We have some work to do on fibbing...)

Big boy.

He wanted to show off his backpack.  

I know, it is huge...should last him through Elementary school though!!

Hope you enjoyed reflections from Landon's Big Milestone that we have been so very blessed to be a part of.  Even though I am so uncomfortable being almost 40 weeks pregnant, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of this transition for my Landon.  God knows what he is doing.  :)

Preparing for Lindsay Jane

My sister did a photo shoot for me and I feel a little self conscious putting all the pictures up...so here is one that is my favorite.  What a talented photographer!!

I have been absolutely spoiled...

My work threw me a surprise party complete with the above beautiful cake and all of our team in attendance.  It was so touching and meant so much to me!  They even got me a Magic Bullet!

And all of these gifts!!!

Belly shots are always a baby shower favorite!

My beloved sisters, the girls in my mommy's group that meets every Friday morning threw me a shower complete with an overnight retreat JUST FOR MOMS!!!  I do not know how I would get through this journey without each of the above ladies.  God's blessings in my life are very evident in the above picture.  I love each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart!

Janise made this beautiful cake!

Janise and Ryan made sure that my coffee mug with encouraging words of scripture from each of them was absolutely perfect!

They gave me an absolutely beautiful Christian baby book for Lindsay Jane.  It made me cry, esp. coming from these ladies.

My family also through me a shower, complete with this absolutely beautiful encore azalea!

A beautiful corsage!

The party hosts, minus poor Teresa who broke her foot getting ready for the shower and Laura who was home being Teresa's nurse. :(

My sis.

The spread of gifts, oh my!!!!

Lindsay's beautiful crochet blanket from Teresa.

 My besties even made it!

See, I told you I was spoiled...

Update in Picture Highlights

Annual Cole/Abate Beach trip.. Can you believe this occurred the first week of July!  I am so behind!  We had a blast, as always.

Bonding with Allison...

Fun in the sand!

Just the best of friends!!

Landon and Caroline jumping the waves...

Family Picture Time!

My boys and the ocean, love it.

We found a new place to do crafts, Bull City Crafts.  The boys had a blast!

Little Rachel Mae, our newest neighbor was born and Connor got to practice being a big brother.  He is a natural!

Happy Mommy, Big Sister Anna and Connorbug.

The boys had lots of bonding time before Landon headed to Kindergarten...which will have its own post!

Stan and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary!  We got to go to Asheville for the weekend while my parents kept the boys.  It was so wonderful!

Speaking of my parents...they also took Landon for a whole week and my dad and Landon had some very special times of bonding.  Landon has affectionately named my dad, "Mr. Pants".  Landon had a blast hiking, picking blackberries, helping Mr. Pants fix things, learning to use the phone, talking to God on the phone, swimming, and many more wonderful adventures!!!

More updates are coming as I am now out of work, waiting for the little girl's arrival.  :)

Love to all.