My 22 month old

Wow..has this year FLEW! I thought when I moved, it would go slow.. but, I think this year went even faster than the first! I am loving this age, in so many ways. It is hard, too..but, so worth it! She is talking up a storm, I think her vocabulary doubled in the last month. She loves to climb.. she sees our dog, Daisy on top of the couch, and thinks she should join her.
Her favorite show at the moment is Dora the Explorer..and at 7pm, she throws a party every night. :)
She loves being outside..so the park is one of our favorite places to go. Although, that will be changing in the colder months. I guess we will have to get creative and start coloring or playing with playdough.lol

My favorite time with P, is at night when we turn off the TV, and read. She LOVES books, and I that makes me a pretty happy mommy! Last few nights, she has said, "Mama, read Bible." and that is just PRICELESS. My prayer is that she continues to desire God's word..and like it says hide it in her heart. I am so blessed to have this sweet little girl! Here are a few recent pics.. ignore the bad lighting.. and the inside ones were auto..it was nice to snap away and not have to think for once!

This only lasted 10 seconds.. this age is so hard to photograph..she is so fast! :)
Also, something I have been praying for a while now, is in the works..I am going to start doing photography on the side..mostly for fun, and it will be nice to have a little spending $. I realized I am still new to photography, that not everyone will love my pics, and that I am NOT making this a career..but, I have several people who have been such an encouragement to go for it, I say..Why not?   A good friend here, Jennifer is working on a logo for me this week..so this blog will look much better when I get that up. When it happens, I will let you in on the site :)
I have my first family shoot this Wed..says some prayers! :)

She makes me smile :)

This girl.. with what we call her "Elvis look"

Could she be anymore dramatic? :)

~ For the record, her eyes are very much BLUE, unlike what these photos show.. just me having fun editing..made them look green.

We have been having a few lazy days...nothing too exciting around here the last few days..which has been kindof nice...Although, I have been trying to plan out the next few months..b/c they will be pretty busy..and of course, have been researching toys online for what to get Miss P..for Christmas and Bday.


             I am looking forward to Sunday, though--Matt's next day off..we love days with Daddy! I love that he knows me so well.. The other night, he made me some Crystal Light ( my fav.) and brought it to me in bed ( what a sweetie) and it was half full with ice..I looked at him, like, going a little cheap on the CL, huh? He just smiled, and said its not like you would actually drink a whole glass anyways..Ah, he's right..so true.. Knows me well! :) Love him! He is the BEST daddy ever, and such an  AMAZING husband, God has blessed me.. And I thank him..DAILY!

My favorites:

Like I said, She makes me smile :)

Prayers for Presley

I saw this a while back, and have been meaning to share.
Matt and I have prayed for our sweet Presley from before she was born.. and it is so GREAT to see her help say the blessings at meals, and help me with her prayer before bed- I thought this was so cool to pray scripture-- I have seen sooo many blessings in my life through pray, and even though my life hasn't been perfect, or always the way I want it to be.. I can say 100% that HE has ALWAYS been FAITHFUL!
 "Sometimes we don't feel like praying. But if there is ever a time that we need to pray, it's when we don't feel like it. We need to pray until we do feel like it." Dr. Rogers

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children
1. Salvation -- "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." Isaiah 45:8, 2; 2 Timothy 2:10
2. Growth in Grace -- "I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18
3. Love -- "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:2
4. Honesty and Integrity -- "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection." Psalm 25:21
5. Self-Control -- "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do." 1 Thessalonians 5:6
6. Love for God's Word -- "May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb." Psalm 19:10
7. Justice -- "God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do." Psalm 11:7; Micah 6:8
8. Mercy -- "May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful." Luke 6:36
9. Respect (for self, others, and authority) -- "Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands." 1 Peter 2:17
10. Biblical Self-Esteem -- "Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:10
11. Faithfulness -- "Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." Proverbs 3:3
12. Courage -- "May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions." Deuteronomy 31:6
13. Purity -- "Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions." Psalm 51:10
14. Kindness -- "Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." 1 Thessalonians 5:15
15. Generosity -- "Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age." 1 Timothy 6:18-19
16. Peace-Loving -- "Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace." Romans 14:19
17. Joy -- "May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 1:6
18. Perseverance -- "Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them." Hebrews 12:1
19. Humility -- "God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." Titus 3:2
20. Compassion -- "Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion." Colossians 3:12
21. Responsibility -- "Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load." Galatians 6:5
22. Contentment -- "Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength." Philippians 4:12-13
23. Faith -- "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them." Luke 17:5-6; Hebrews 11:1-40
24. A Servant's Heart -- "God, please help my children develop servant's hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." Ephesians 6:7
25. Hope -- "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
26. Willingness and Ability to Work -- "Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." Colossians 3:23
27. Passion for God -- "Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "˜followeth hard after thee,' one that clings passionately to You." Psalm 63:8
28. Self-Discipline -- "Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." Proverbs 1:3
29. Prayerfulness -- "Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers."
30. Gratitude -- "Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 2:7
31. A Heart for Missions -- "Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples." Psalm 96:3

The best Halloween EVER!

This year was my very fav. Halloween-- It is so much more fun as a parent!
WHY? because I got to see my little angel as a bumblebee..but, not just any bumblebee.. One that stopped to smell the flowers, roll around in grass, and said, "trick or treat" and " thank-you" to everyone handing her candy. It was hilarious seeing her toddler down the street, at times she tried going back to the same house we just came from. Oh, and even better.. her sweet daddy got to be there with us! He usually has to work, so this was a special night for us!
The McKowns' invited us over for pizza..and yummy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins..and we took Presley and Greyson out in the wagon.
It was so much fun..a night I enjoyed from start to finish!
I am getting super excited for Christmas this year- it is going to be so much fun!!! I just love this age..which I could make time freeze sometimes!

Enjoy the pictures of my little girl..who is not a baby anymore :(

Getting ready to sting! :)

Hugging her friend, Greyson

My sweet friend, Lindsey and Greyson

One of my fav. pics of the night..Daddy going in for a kiss

Trick-or-Treat

My little bee :)

Getting into her costume...lol

My sweet family :)

And the greatest pic. before we left--

Of course bees read B, B, and B!

~Did this all by herself, I just happen to have the camera ready! :)

Our family vacation to Gatlinburg

Presley seeing the mountains for the first time :)

She LOVED the apples at Carver's Apple Barn

Grandmommy and Granddad's cabin :)

Grandmommy and Granddad :)

She LOVED throwing rocks into Greenbrier Creek

Park playdate

Get

Ready

 To 

LAUGH!! lol

Greyson eyeing Presley's snack..Thought this was too cute~ 

Sweet Avery-this girl is AWESOME!

Precious MIA! Ah, this little girl is beautiful!!

Sad..no pictures of little Tyson.. I will have to get a great one of him on our next playdate.

i am back!!

IT has been a crazy few weeks.. I haven't been blogging because our computer crashed...but, it was good for me to have a break from internet and blogging world.. I couldn't believe how much I got done without it! I did miss it..but, I for sure need to time manage it a little better.. Presley and I went to Memphis this past week to visit family..we had so much fun, and our now back home.. I am busy cleaning today, because I am giving a baby shower this Sunday for my sweet friend here, Lindsey..then Mon. we leave for Gatlinburg for a family vaca.. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Since I have gotten older.. my favorite place is the mountains..take it over the beach ANY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! It is just so pretty, love the chilly weather, and I get to break out the fall clothes.. whoo hoo!! Here are a few pics of our time in Memphis... P was NOT happy about taking pics.. only one she actually wasn't screaming in.. :)

On a sad note, my brother John is leaving for Iraq for a year.. He is in the Army..and has been sent over as part of the exit group..thankfully, he won't be fighting..but, I know his sweet family is going to miss him! We got to say our goodbyes..and I was so happy we could all get together one last time before he had to leave..
I had one of my very favorite days this past week.. My sweet parents went in together and bought us a new MacBook Pro for early Christmas.. seriously..BEST. Present. EVER! I am learning new things daily..and have the one on one classes for a year.. so I will be doing those as soon as I get back from vaca! I also got a lot of practice in with my photography..and can't wait to get photoshop to start editing away!
I also have chosen the theme for Presley's 2nd bday.. She LOVES her monkey..so I thought this would be simply, cute, and fun. Going to just get the plates and do pink and green cups, napkins, etc... It will be fun, but alot less stressful that last year! We are planning to come to town the beginning of Dec. and do a  family party.