Howdy!

Howdy lovely readers :) Hope you are all doing well. I have been trying to get back into the swing of blogging and have actually started a daily blog about my daily migraine history. You can read it right here if you feel so inclined. I am just basically journaling about my daily foods and migraine history. I am trying to figure out my migraine triggers. Anyways, I am only 3 days into that but hopefully it will entice me back into my family blog.


I am in the process of planning Kirsten's 6th birthday! She is having a cowgirl themed birthday party at a local farm/ranch. She is going to have a blast with all her Sunday School friends and cousins.


I don't know if I have already posted (yes, I am too lazy to go back and look right now! ha!) but Noah got a job as a surgical tech!! We are so blessed. He starts on February 6th.


The kids are doing great! Bella is almost 18 months now and is really starting to explore the great big world of talking :) I love seeing her learn new things and the amazement in her eyes! She is so wild and likes to whine but I love her so much! We don't have a bottle anymore (since 11 months), still sleep comfortably in our crib with no intention of moving to a big girl bed anytime soon and are absolutely addicted to our pacifiers!! She will carry around 2 or 3 in her hands all the time. ha! :) Silly girl. I am confident that she will wean herself when she is ready though.



Kirsten will be 6 next month and is loving Kindergarten still. She is having some problems with phonics and I am trying hard to work with her on it. A friend of mine told me about ABCmouse.com and it is really awesome!! I truly love that website! If you have a preschooler to Kindergartener you should look into joining that website to help with their skills if they need it. They have really unique settings that work for each child! As soon as Bella is old enough, I will set her up an account too!


Elijah will be 8 in July & is still 100% boy. We are still having a little trouble from him at school but nothing like the previous years have been. He is soooo into his Wii and his Nintendo DS. We are having to monitor his usage on them because he wants to be on them all the time. He also got a netbook for Christmas from his pawpaw (Noah's dad) so he is up to date on his electronics. Right now he is really into Star Wars. He tries to get his sisters to "fight" him with the light sabers all the time...he really needs a brother! ha :)


We are heading to AR this weekend to see my family and celebrate my niece's 6th Birthday! I can't believe she is already 6 years old. I sure love that girl!


As far as I go, I am doing great! I only have 1 year of school left then my 12 weeks of student teaching and I will be DONE! I can't wait to walk across that stage and get my diploma! :) It has been a long road but I am so grateful and thankful that I did it and accomplished a life long goal!


Well I guess that is all for now! Hope you all have a great rest of the week and weekend!


-Cori B.

Family Pictures

Hey Lovely blog readers...I know I am a terrible blogger lately. And I don't have a lot of time right now but I wanted to share some family photos we had taken back in November :) You can see how much the kids have grown! Elijah is 7 1/2, Kirsten will be 6 next month and Bella is 17 months! Wow how time flies. Our family is doing great! I only have 1 year of school left then I start my student teaching. Noah finally found work at a local hospital (praise Jesus!!). The kids are growing like weeds!!

I am still Alive :)

Bella at 14 months old

All 3 kiddos on the first day of school :)

Yes, dear 29 followers-

I am still alive! I know you have been wondering and wondering where I am (or not, you know). But the truth is I just didn't feel like my blog was worth reading. But here I am for a minute..not sure I will stay long. ha!

Things are going fairly well for our family. Noah is still looking for full time work in the Surgical Tech field while doing part time computer programming.

I am still working full time at the attorney's office and doing school full time too. School, work and life make for a really long day but I would not have it any other way :) (hey that rhymed!)

Elijah is 7 years and (almost) 4 months old now. He is in 2nd grade and doing MUCH better than last year with his conduct and grades. He is still getting in a little trouble for not finishing his school work but it is a drastic improvement from last year. He is playing soccer now and loves it!

He hopes to do Karate during the Spring.

Kirsten is 5 years and 8 months old now. She is getting so big. She is in Kindergarten and really flourishing well! We are so proud of her. She has become a little "diva" though :)

Baby Bella is not such a baby anymore at 15 months old, more like a toddler now. She is so smart! She goes to a Christian daycare during the week and does great. She is walking/running/jumping all over the place!! I can hardly keep up with that girl! She says some words that are understandable but mostly still just talks jibberish! :)

Halloween is right around the corner. Our kids are going to be: Elijah-Anakin Skywalker, Kirsten-A princess ladybug, and Bella-A pink poodle :) They are going to be precious.

Well I hope your weekends are great...we have plans to attend our local Zoo Boo and then trick or treating Monday :)

Miracle Blessing

Well Hi there strangers! I know I have been MIA for over a month and a half..things have been kind of crazy around our house. I hope (no promises though) to be back to blogging regularly VERY soon! But I wanted to let you guys know that a miracle blessing happened yesterday..





Do you remember my cousin Becky and her baby boy Jake?





Of course you do, well Jake is now HOME!!!!! Yes, ladies (and gentlemen) Baby Jake now weighs over 7 lbs, breaths on his own and takes a bottle like a champ! They were discharged from Vanderbilt University yesterday morning and made it home yesterday afternoon!





Thank you for all your prayers. Please keep them up for baby Jake as he does have a long road ahead of him but I know our Ultimate Healer and He is GOOD! :)

A baby Jake update!!

Just wanted to give you an update on second cousin, sweet baby Jake. He is up to 4 lbs 3 oz. and still being fed breast milk thru tubes. He is off of the ventilator and holding his own. His surgery will be in about 3 weeks. My cousin wanted me to thank you for your prayers!

This first picture is my absolute favorite! I am thinking about having it put on a canvas or something for my cousin.


Becky & baby Jake :)

Look at all that hair!!

Don't you just want to eat him up! I wish so badly I could go see him in the hospital!

My cousin Ashleigh (Becky's sister) told me that when Jake cries all Becky has to do is speak to him and he is silent. I thought that was the sweetest thing!!

Thank you all again for your prayers for our sweet baby Jake! I will keep you all updated as much as I can!

Just a note, if you are in a position or feel inclined Becky is in need of Virgin Mobile phone cards and extra money for expenses. The hospital feeds her 3 times a day but she has no money for anything else she needs. Her husband is having to travel back and forth to Vanderbilt from their home (about 4 hours away) and the money for gas is really breaking the bank for them. Becky's address is below:

Becky Brown
3311 West End Avenue
Room 309
Nashville, TN 37203

Thank you all again for your sweet prayers! You will never know how much they are appreciated!

Things Bella likes to play with...

...that are not her toys!



1. Power tools. This morning I walked in our room after showering and Bella was trying to get to a screw driver that was left out from hanging pictures the day before. I tried to get her to come and play with her rubby ducky and fishies but she refused. She kept running (crawling really fast rather) back over to that screw driver. I eventually had to place it where she could not find it!


2. Cords. Yes, I know I have blogged about this before but sheesh this child is almost impossible to keep away from cords in our house! Absolutely insane. I am almost certain that she b-lines for them as soon as I put her down in any room. She usually knows where they are in any room too..smart little child.

3. All of mommy's hair products. Every morning when I am getting ready she raids my hair product drawer (probably because it is the lowest one..but it is better than having the makeup drawer down there..can you imagine?) But instead of just playing with my brushes and combs she goes for the things that spray. Yesterday she sprayed her body with hairspray! Then thought it was extremely funny :)

What things do your babies/kids play with aren't their toys? :)

A handy little chart for when you need it :)

If you are like me, when I am having a rough day (like today! sheesh!) I usually go to God's word for a piece of advice. I received this handy little chart in an email from my Aunt today and wanted to share it with you, my awesome readers!


YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

'It's impossible'
All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

'I'm too tired'
I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

'Nobody really loves me'
I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34)

"I can't go on'
My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

'I can't figure things out'
I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

'I can't do it'
You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

'I'm not able'
I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

'It's not worth it'
It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28)

'I can't forgive myself'
I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

'I can't manage'
I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

'I'm afraid'
I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

'I'm always worried and frustrated'
Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

'I'm not smart enough'
I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

'I feel all alone'
I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)


I tried to make it into a chart for you but it would not work for me. So just read it as the first line is what you say, second line what God says and the third line is the scriputure to back it up! Some of these verses are my favorites :) Always know that when you are at your weakest point...just hold on to the Bible, open the Bible and believe in His almighty Word and you will make it through! He has promised us this!