Moving!

Lately, we've been doing a little of this:




And this:




Yep, that's right, we bought a house and are in the process of re-doing the floors, knocking out walls, etc! This has all happened in the past 3 weeks. Andy found this great house, we went to look at it, prayed about it, put an offer on it, and 2 weeks later we were closing on it! I feel that gives me an adequate excuse for failing to update my blog. :)

Andy has been SO wonderful in handling EVERYTHING, from the mortgage, to the estimates, to meeting with the home inspector, to lining up workmen, etc, etc! It's been so wonderful, so I get to be with Jackson and help stick to his routine of napping. I'll show some more before and after pics when we get them. We're really really sad to be leaving sweet Homewood, but we're really grateful to move into a house with more space, more than one bathroom, and the potential to live there for many years to come.

Sweet Jackson is now almost 4 months old! We go to the pediatrician this week for 4 month shots and a weight check.

Below is a picture of Jackson with his friend Thomas Menendez. The Menendez' came over last weekend and we celebrated our new home with a fun bottle of Prosecco they brought us! Becker (almost 2 years old) loved running around the empty house.





Andy's Mom, Ya Ya, bought Jackson an exersaucer this past Christmas, and we've set it up at the new house so Jackson can play while we work on house projects. He loves the stimulation (can you tell by his wide-eyed expression??). It's so cute seeing him growing up!



Look at those long skinny legs :)



Off to pack more boxes!

Mother's Day & Jackson's Dedication

It was such a privilege and an honor to celebrate Mother's Day this year with my wonderful mother, grandmother, and mother-in-law. And I'm also humbled and grateful at the opportunity God has given me to be Jackson's mother!

In addition to celebrating Mother's Day, we dedicated Jackson to the Lord at our church. The verse we've chosen for Jackson to be his "life verse" is Zephaniah 3:17, which is also the verse this blog is based on:

"The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."



We love you so much Jackson, and our prayer is that you will become a boy and man after God's own heart!







Jackson listened intently to everything Papaw said :)





Jackson loved meeting his Aunt Rosemary! She was en route to her brother's graduation in Auburn and decided to stop by.

Tornadoes

Wow, have things changed since my last post! As many of you know, the South was ripped apart by devastating tornadoes on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Thankfully, the F-5 tornado that was headed right towards our home in Birmingham diverted slightly north, and unfortunately hit 5 miles north of us. Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and many other cities are facing devastating losses.

As I passed by our church on Highway 280, I was in shock as I saw the downed trees, busted windows, and overall destruction at our church and all around Birmingham from these mighty storms. Amazingly, God spoke to me as I was driving through our church parking lot. Jackson was in the car, and I was trying to get him to nap, so I had "Praise Baby" playing in my CD player. The song as I drove into the parking lot, amidst Alabama Power trucks and tree loggers, was "How Great is our God." So powerful. As I was leaving the church, this song was playing:

"Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name."

So powerful! God is so good in protecting us, and yet I mourn for all those who have lost loved ones, their homes, everything. As I was huddled in the bathroom with Jackson during the tornado, the Lord brought to mind the verse that my blog is centered around, and I found myself quoting "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save," over and over again to Jackson in the midst of my fear that the tornado would hit us. What comfort this verse brings me, as it shows God's faithfulness to us.

In addition to praising God for His protection over us, I am so grateful that we were at the lake last week and not this week, as another tornado completely destroyed my parent's lakehouse. My parents don't have cable on their TV at the lake right now (only during football season :), and so we would have had no idea these storms were coming had we been there.

This link, http://kennethboone.smugmug.com/News/Tornado-photos-by-Fred-Dobbs/16816576_rzftNC#1269060928_m3DpKfk, shows an aerial view of the lake, and my parent's lakehouse is on the bottom corner.

This is another picture of the lakehouse. This really puts into perspective the things that are important in life. We're taking none of our material possessions with us when we die, and this earth is only our temporary home.



On a lighter note, we will always cherish the sweet memories we have from the lake. Below are some pictures showcasing the fun we've had there with friends and family. Also, the first few pictures are gorgeous sunset views that we captured last week.







Ashley's graduation from Auburn, and the whole York clan celebrated at Lake Martin





Celebrating some Auburn football wins at the lake with family

Below is a picture of Margaret and Tucker enjoying a boat ride.





Andy and his little sister Ashley

Below is a wedding shower we hosted for Blaire Moore in college.



Oh what fun memories!!



Be praying for all those affected by the tornadoes, who lost so much and so much life.

Muffins

All of us in our family like to eat! :) Below are some recipes for the foods I've been making and eating recently.

From Rushton's blog, these are some oh-so-good (but not-so-good-for-you??)
CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN MUFFINS

1 2/3 c flour
1 c sugar
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
(Mix all above ingredients together.)

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 c canned pumpkin
1 stick butter, melted
(Add above 3 ingredients to dry mix.)

Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips. Place in greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Makes 12-16 regular muffins.


BRAN FLAX MUFFINS
(but I really think they need a better name for this, as this name sounds very unappetizing)

1 1/2 c white flour
3/4 c flaxseed meal
3/4 c oat bran (I used uncooked whole grain oats)
1 c brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c carrots, shredded
2 apples, peeled and shredded
1/2 c raisins (optional)
1 c nuts, chpd
3/4 c milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together flour, flaxseed meal (which I bought at Whole Foods; this recipe is from the bag of Uncle Bob's Organic Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal), oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
Stir in carrots, apples, raisins, and nuts.
Combine milk, beaten eggs, and vanilla.
Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until ingredients are moistened, but do not overstir. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full (I greased my muffin cups first). Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Yields 15-20 muffins.

These muffins are delicious, healthy, and packed with Omega-3's!

And while you have the flaxseed meal, go ahead and make these
LACTATION COOKIES!
(Sorry, just for moms who are breastfeeding)

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2-4 tablespoons brewer's yeast (found at Whole Foods, and I do 4 Tbsp)

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix the flaxseed meal and water, and let stand for 3-5 minutes.
Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
Add eggs and mix well.
Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.
Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and brewer's yeast, and slowly add to butter mix.
Stir in oats and chocolate chips (although I may try Craisins next time for variety).
Scoop onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Makes ALOT of cookies, so freeze half of them after baking.

It's recommended that you eat 4-6 cookies a day to increase your milk supply, and they really do work! Plus, they're packed with fiber and Omega 3's and lots of heart-healthy grains. This recipe courtesy of this blog

Happy Baking!

3 Months Old

A lot has happened these past 3 weeks with our sweet little boy. We've made a trip to Auburn's A-Day, spent a week at the lake, celebrated Easter, and now we're back in town and enjoying Jackson's routine (yes, he's sleeping so much better at night!).



This is Jackson's first time in the Bumbo, and he did great holding himself up, until he noticed his feet and slumped over to get a closer look at them. He's really been noticing his hands and feet a good bit, and he's continually seeing how far he can cram both fists into his mouth.



Andy and I were so proud of Jackson making it to half time for the Auburn A-Day game! He slept in the Baby Bjorn, and I had him covered from head to toe to make sure he didn't get burned.

Below is a beautiful picture of the sunset at the lake.





Below is another picture of Jackson (11 weeks) with Aunt Myra. He's grown so much since she last saw him at 3 weeks. Myra had a fun tailgating party at her beautiful Auburn condo before the A-Day game.



Can we say "Touchdown Auburn!"







His first preppy Polo outfit



Happy Easter! And what an amazing reason we have to celebrate: Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!

Meet and Greet

Jackson has been able to meet a lot of new friends all this week. It's so fun that some of my very close friends are all having babies around the same time.



This picture was taken on Wednesday with 2 of my closest friends from nursing school. Stacy Morris had Will the same day Jackson was born, and our hospital rooms were next to each other. Katie Guess had McNeill about a month later. (Melanie, we'll have to get you and Mattie in the picture next time!)

On Thursday, Jackson and I drove to Jacksonville, AL, to meet up with some more close friends. Beth, Lyndsay, and Emily were all in ADPi 2 years above me at Auburn, and I look up to them and respect them so much! Three of us have had boys within weeks of each other, and Emily is the pro with 3 girls under the age of 3.



This is Jackson trying to take in all the fun chaos caused by 3 babies and 4 toddlers all getting together in one adorable house!



Lyndsay with Cooper (6 weeks old)



Emily with Joy (17 months)



Abby Jane (3 years old) and Blythe (17 months)



And if at first you don't succeed in capturing a smile, try another picture!



Beth and Tucker (one month old). Bella Grace is 18 months and made it in the group shot. She has the most adorable curls!



And while I'm not a fan of my mom-in-black attire and slouched posture (yes, I'm about to start Pee Wee Pilates at home), I had to prove I was there :)




On Friday, Jackson met some of his "uncles" (aka Andy's best friends), and he just smiled at them and carried on with his ooh-ing and aah-ing. Below, he's with Matt, Lewis, and Jay.



And here's Will (who's wife Margaret is having a little girl in September!), Matt, proud daddy, Jay, and Tyler. Lewis was MIA for this picture.




Also on Friday, Jackson met his other set of great-grandparents. Gramma and Granpa made the drive up from Orlando, and we had the best time seeing them. They even brought him a wonderful Auburn quilt that a lady in their church made for them. What a special gift that will be treasured for many years!





4 Generations!







Proud Pops



Proud Daddy (who's also very tired as he's smack dab in the middle of tax busy season. We can't wait for April 15th!!)