Beach trip '13

Warning: photo OVERLOAD. I never use the "real" camera anymore, always just taking iPhone pics, but I was determined to be better on this trip. So, here's the result:

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?

² 

My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1

So classic Crawford right now... carrying a ball, running, covered in bruises and scratches.

failed attempt at some decent pictures...

Birmingham getaway

A few weekends ago I went to Birmingham by myself for an overnight visit. I quickly realized how badly I needed that kind of alone time because I was ridiculously excited. Like, way way too excited. It was the first time in 15 months that I had been by myself for more than 2 or so hours, and it was a nice getaway. I LOVE time with my boys, but I know it was good for all of us to have a bit of a break from each other.

I went to help throw a baby shower for my sweet best college buddy Kara. We lived together for years and she got me to work at CVP that first summer. So really, I owe KRay a debt of gratitude for meeting my David and I guess my entire Chattanooga-based life :).

She is expecting sweet Benjamin (the 4th boy of 4 Currie Way babies!) in June, and I am SO excited. 

What was even more exciting (because it was a surprise) was my other pal Jamie telling me SHE is expecting too!! She's due about a month after me, so all three of us got to be together while pregnant!! I love this season of life :). Kara, Jamie and I lived on the same hall freshman year of college and are still such good friends today (10 years later!).

Oh these pictures are good for the soul... Good, ridiculous college times! And yes, I have two black eyes in the above pic with Jamie. Broken nose as a result of a cheerleading injury... nice.

David kept me in the loop with pics of our boy. They went out on a breakfast date Saturday morning, and Crawford sat at the table like a big boy at church! 

The shower, though hectically thrown together in the 20 minutes before it started, was so sweet. Kara is well-loved by her Birmingham family, and Benjamin no doubt already is too. We played some fun baby shower games (surprisingly, not an oxymoron). The best one was when we divided into two teams armed with magazines and scissors to create what baby just may look like out of the womb. Hilarious results.

Sad that these are blurry and bad... Jamie was mortified taking these, which made them that much more fun :). 

What a gift to share this season of life with these best friends! 2014 babies!

Feeling blessed

As I sit in our fabulous beach condo listening to the tranquil sounds of the pool fountain, regularly checking the monitor to see if the baby is asleep yet, and feeling the six inches of tiny baby Lawson gurgling around inside me, I am overwhelmed with the feeling in my chest. It's been bubbling all day, all week, really.

Thankful.

David got a job. A job he had applied for before he even lost his. The only job he really had his eye and his heart set on. As it turns out, he will start his new gig before his severance even runs out. Double dipping! My dad predicted this would happen the day I told him David lost his job. In fact, everyone close to us has been so excited to see what happens next because they all could feel how right this is. Old job? Crap insurance, zilch vacation time, 83 miles round trip and mean boss. New job? Insurance company thus amazing benefits, double vacation time, downtown office (6 miles! home for lunch!) and pretty easy-going, family oriented team to work with. Hello, Lord! Thank you!!

We have been enjoying our beach vacation (that was planned before the job change) this week, and we've even extended it on both sides to see some family. David starts 6/3 so we still have a few weeks to squeeze in some fun. I'm so proud of David and so thankful for the Lord's provision, but I'm secretly sad for this time to come to an end. I'm going to need lots of play dates and outings starting in June! This truly has been the sweetest time for our little family. Crawford is going to need baby therapy when David isn't around all day every day. I know all kids love their parents (right?? Right.), but this kid has gotten used to some serious daddy-attention and losing that will not go unnoticed. He wakes up saying "dadee dadee" and doesn't stop all day long. I am chopped liver, and I'm (mostly) ok with it 😉. I've gotten pretty used to getting to hang out with my BFF 24/7 too. At first I thought we'd drive each other crazy after a few days, but that time never came. It's been four weeks and I get sad if we run errands apart. The Lord knew we needed this time for us. 

So, I'm being rambly (but I cried like a lot during The Office season finale, so at least I'm not being weepy...), but I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks to everyone who was encouraging and supportive. Thanks to all my friends who have understand my being MIA in order to soak up my family time. Thanks to our families who have let us rearrange our plans and have celebrated with us this week. 

Most of all, "Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name!" 1 Chronicles 29:13

family fun days

I'm not going to lie. I love David being unemployed. Because we aren't stressed about money (the Werner house closes this week! yay!) and he has several opportunities in the works, we are just LOVING the time we have together as a family. The weather has mostly been amazing, so we've taken advantage of our chance to be outside and do fun things.

Playing like a red neck in the front yard... lots of exploring, a little bit of playing and an equal amount of crying.

Snack time at Green Life

Playing at a just-Crawford-sized playground at a park near our house. He was mostly interested in picking (and eating) flowers/weeds.

One of his favorite activities at our house = taking each item out of this drawer in our bathroom and redistributing them. One in the bathtub, one in the laundry hamper, one in the cabinet, etc... It's a scavenger hunt to find my makeup!

Sweetest little sugary face eating a donut at the Chattanooga Market, our favorite Sunday outing

Grandma Cathy gave him this tunnel for his birthday and he finally loves it!

Day trip to Fall Creek Falls state park! So much fun! 

Crawford has to have something up against his face to fall asleep. Usually it is one of his loveys, but any stuffed animal will suffice.

We took advantage of the Lookouts having a day time game! He wasn't so interested in the actual baseball playing (I mean really, who is?) but he loved watching people and eating his raisins.

Gorgeous evening in Coolidge Park! I ate a snow cone, Crawford and David played with a soccer ball. He's actually getting impressively good at kicking and passing a ball (Crawford, not David).

This kid keeps us laughing! He is so much fun!