Live Life Abundantly

John and I watched a Will Smith movie, 7 Pounds, a couple of weeks ago. It was an oddly great movie. It had a great message but was presented in an odd way. It really made me think about how we treat people in our daily lives and truly made me want to go out and do some good deeds for others and live my life abundantly!


While, watching the movie, my friend, Dana posted a blog of one of her friends, titled Choices. It really sums up my life right now and probably the lives for a lot of stay at home mom's. I have really been struggling with the idea of a new baby coming into our lives. As excited as I am to meet this little boy, I am super scared!! I even mentioned to John last night, when am I ever going to get a shower taken?? It seems like I am letting Carter watch a lot more TV than I used to in order to get things done around the house and even then I don't even feel like I am keeping up with the house and the things that need to be kept up with.


The Choices blog reminded me that I need to forget about the load of dishes that are in the dishwasher for just a little bit and take a little more time to play with my kids. I need to brave the heat for just 5-10 minutes and go outside and blow bubbles. I need to live abundantly!! I want to remember all of these days with my kids as great days and days of laughter and playtime and not days of being stressed out and worried. My kids aren't going to remember that the kitchen was a little dirty or their clothes weren't put away as soon as they were dry. But they will remember their mommy playing games with them and having fun with them.


Carter, Preston, and Baby, I promise from this day to live my days for you boys and play with you more and give you the mommy you so much deserve! I love all three of you so very much and I hope you will always know that!!

Vacation Bible School

Our church, Waterview, had their annual VBS last week. It started on Sunday night and ended on Wednesday night. We didn't make it on Monday as we were celebrating Cayden's birthday but Carter went all of the other nights. The theme was "Super Heroes of the Bible." Carter had so much fun!! Now, whenever I tell him that he needs to eat all of his dinner so he grows up to be big and strong, he will say, "Big and strong like Jesus and God?" I'm so thankful that we are raising our kids in the church and they are going to grow up knowing God.

The last night was a family fun night. They had hot dogs, chips and cookies. The hot dogs just kept coming out. I could hardly believe how many they cooked up!! Then after we ate we went out to one of the parking lots where they had games and bounce houses for the kids. Carter decided to go through the obstacle bounce house which actually surprised me a little because it was HUGE! He also enjoyed riding a barrel train! It was so hot though and we all left there wanting A/C and cold water.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Carter's new favorite shirt is his VBS t-shirt! He has slept in it countless times and has worn so many days! I'm shocked!!

Cayden's 8th Birthday

Our nephew, Cayden, turned 8 last month. I can't believe he is already 8 years old!!! Carter looks up to him so much and loves when get to see him. Cayden treats Carter just like one of his friend's and plays with him. We met everyone at On the Border, which is pretty common when it comes to the McCord family. But, that is where Cayden wanted to eat. He had a great birthday and his Nana got him an Ipod Touch!

Blowing out his candle!

Cayden and Carter

Cayden showing Carter his Ipod.

Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day at our house this year. This is John's 4th Father's Day!! John's Mom and Dad came over as well as Grandad. John grilled hotdogs and sausages, Beckie made her yummy egg salad and I made a cheesecake with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. It was a great lunch!

I didn't know what to get John for Father's Day so I thought long and hard. John has always talked about his greatest memory as a kid was going fishing with his Dad. So, since John already has his own fishing pole, I took Carter to Walmart and let him pick out a fishing pole for himself. It was a gift for John so that he can now create memories of taking his own boys fishing. He seemed to really like it, although Carter couldn't keep it a surprise.

My cheesecake with berries. I kinda screwed up on the whipped cream and it almost turned into butter! :)

Self Feeding

I have started to let Preston practice self feeding more solid food. He loves the little Gerber microwavable bowls of pasta. I haven't been brave enough to let him do it with the pasta and meat sauce but here is a picture of him eating chicken/pasta and veggies. He loved it!!

He ate his first "breakfast bar" this morning. Carter loves Nutrigrain bars and would eat them all day long if I let him. Preston managed to gobble Carter's breakfast bar this morning before either of us had a chance to take it away. So, as I was reading the manual on our new Roomba, which I can't wait to use, I sat Preston in his highchair let him have his very own. I only have one more month before we can start weaning him off of formula so I need to get him eating more solid food. Plus, I don't really think baby food is filling him up anymore.

11 Months Old!

Preston is 11 months old today!! I can hardly believe it has almost been a year since he was born. It has been a whirlwind of a year that's for sure! He makes us so very happy and I can't imagine our world without him. He is such a happy baby and everywhere we go people ask us if he is always this happy. Yes, he is!! He is now crawling, standing up, walking around things and loves to play with his brother. Yesterday he started clapping. It is the cutest thing ever!! I am now planning his first birthday party and excited to celebrate his first year of life! I have made his invitations and need to order his cake... Now, what to get him for gifts???? God knows we don't need anymore toys!! Happy 11 months, baby!!! I love you!!

Thank Heaven for Chiropractors!

I have been having some major hip pains in my right hip for the past couple of months and have just been dealing with it. It has gotten so bad though that I wake up everytime I turn over or move in my sleep. It hurts to bend over, sit down, stand up...it just hurts! It came during my first trimester but went away after a couple of weeks. It now hasn't let up and is making me miserable. I spoke to Dr. Jacoby about it and he said my hormones are causing my pelvic bones to relax in order to prepare for birth and that's what's causing. Well, great, because I don't push a baby out and I don't need my pelvic bones to relax!! He told me I had three options - 1.) see a chiropractor, 2.) go to physical therapy, or 3.) deal with it. I chose option 1. I went with the recommendation of some of my Wylie Mom friends and went to Dr. Shad Reif yesterday. I was a little nervous as I have never seen a chiropractor and I had Preston with me but the appointment went great!

I do have a birth defect in my spine that was diagnosed when I was 18 which he agreed is playing a role. My bottom vertebrae is half vertebrae and half pelvic bone and causes me to have muscle spasms in my right hip. Dr. Reif explained that my right side is being pulled up higher than my left side and is pulling the muscle that is attached to my hip and back. In turn, it is putting pressure on my sciatica and causing my hip to hurt. He showed me some stretches that I have to do on my own to help stretch that muscle and did a few adjustments. I have noticed a small difference already and that was just yesterday! I am so impressed with Dr. Reif. He called me at 7:30 last night just to see how I was doing and said that they number he was calling from was his cell and not to hesitate to call if I had any questions. I go back tomorrow for another adjustment. I am going to ask how long he thinks it will take to get it to where I can live pain free. Hopefully he says just a couple of weeks!!