Blessed Paths

Baby Carroll #2

2011-12-30T14:00:00.008-06:00

If you haven't heard already......we have an announcement.......

We are expecting Baby C #2!

Ben and I are beyond thrilled! John Michael, these days, seems VERY interested in babies (especially his new cousin Abby) so it should be lots of fun!

Finding out we are expecting is a story I will always remember............

I have been suffering from a illness since around August and have been on medication since then. I had called my doctor to get a refill on the medicine and just as a side note asked if I could be "late" due to the medication (I was three days late). She told me that it should not be causing those issues. She told me to take a pregnancy test and to tell the pharmacist if I was pregnant or not because she would call both medications in and whichever I needed to get. I told the doctor "I'm not pregnant." Famous last words!

I went to Harps Pharmacy and bought the cheapest test you can find, went to the bathroom, peed on the stick, and waited the two minutes. I was frustrated at this point.....I mean, really, I was not pregnant. I waited and I only saw 1 Pink Line (Negative). Throw the test back in the bag and in my purse, told the pharmacist it was negative, got the medication and left.

When I got into the car, I just wanted to confirm and looked at the test again......hmmmmm....is that a second line? No way, I'm just making things up in my head. Right?

I had to go to Wal-mart to pick up a toy I ordered that had come in so I decided to go ahead and pickup one of the "expensive" tests.....you know, the type that tells yous "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". I went to the Wal-mart bathroom again and WOW......one minute later, I'm in shock.

I'm pretty sure I RAN out of Wal-mart. I had a zillion emotions running them me (mostly shock! and excitement). I had not told Ben about my adventure because I hadn't wanted to bother him at work for just a "negative" pregnancy test so I was a little worried about telling him. Not worried because he would be upset that we are expecting, but I felt like I had "robbed" him of the opportunity to be there for the test!

I called Ben and asked him if he would shut his office door. By this time, I was crying a little and he was really worried...."Allison, What is going on?!?!"

I then sent him this picture:

Ben was SO excited! I could hear him smiling over the phone!

What is really great......all of this running around was done within my 1 hour lunch break. Let me tell you, not much work was done that afternoon!

I will always have one good story to tell him OR her on their birthday every year!

This is our sweet baby due on June 21st:

Fair!

2011-10-03T16:27:00.004-05:00

To say John Michael loves animals would be a true understatement.
Ben and I were so excited to take him to the Fair this year to see the animals that he doesn't typically get to interact with. He LOVED it.

Talking with Mr. Pig......his nose was sticking out of the catch and John Michael took the opportunity to have a little chat with him.

We were so impressed by the FFA teenagers at the fair. All of them were so nice and went out of their way to show us the animals. Many of them stopped while they were walking their animals to another stall and let JM pet them.

After the animals, there was only one ride we wanted to take John Michael....the Merry-Go-Round. At first, he was NOT into it and was very unhappy. However, as soon as the ride actually began.....he loved it! Ben and I took a turn riding with him and standing outside the Merry Go Round might have been the best part....he wanted in anticipation to see the other and waved and blew lots of kisses!

After the ride was over.....he didn't wan to get off!

After all the fun we had....we had to have a snack! John Michael's favorite was definitely the fresh squeezed Lemonade!

We had so much fun and cannot wait to go again next time!

My Boys

2011-09-26T14:06:00.003-05:00

I went on a shopping expedition this past weekend with my two Sister-n-laws and Mother-n-law to NorthWest Arkansas.

Because of my girls weekend....it meant my boys were to fend for themselves.....

This is what they did!

Ben and John Michael participated in "Paint the Park Pink" on Saturday morning and walked in honor of my grandmother, "Mama" Anna, and her survival of breast cancer!

The boys had a great time and it made me so proud!

After the walk, they cheered on the Razorbacks! (Sadly, we lost....but no reason to dwell on that!)

I was so glad the boys got to have some "guy" time......both of them had such a good day!

John Michael sure loves his daddy!

We're Back!

2011-09-12T14:56:00.004-05:00

I know....I know....I have not blogged in forever. Life just simply has gotten into the way......and we just enjoyed summer way too much!!

John Michael is doing great......growing every day!

We just recently went to his 18 Month Appointment and here are his stats:

Weight: 24 Pounds 12 Oz (40% Percentile)

Height: 33.5" (70% Percentile)

He can Say So Many Things these days:

Mama, Dada, Hello, Hi, Hey, Bye-Bye, Dog, More Please, Hot Bannana, Meme, Dado, Mamaw, Ops, Nana, Ball, No, Riley, Ready Go, Car

He is a VERY active and ALL boy. He LOVES to be outside, running, chasing and throwing balls, mowing the grass, and riding in his wagon.

He LOVES (and has no fear of) animals....espeically dogs.

He Gives hugs and kisses (with a pucker sound!) when asked. He also throws many kisses.

Here's to hoping I'll blog again very soon! :)

John Michael's School Party!

2011-03-03T16:47:00.007-06:00

For John Michael's actual Birthday, Ben and I surprised him at school with a party!
We brought the cupcakes, birthday boy bib, birthday hats, and duckies for the kiddos.
John Michael seemed a little confused at first why we where both there, but quickly showed us off to all his friends!

The kids eating:

Of course, the birthday boy didn't want to wear his hat!

But Lucy Did!

John Michael's First Haircut

2011-03-02T15:53:00.002-06:00

Ben and I where getting a little concerned about the mullet that John Michael was growing so the week before his Birthday, he got his first haircut! I was nervous about it because the boy does not like to sit still!
After grabbing a nice Chick-fil-a meal, we headed to see "Steve". Steve is so special because he has been cutting Ben's hair since he was three years old! Twenty-seven years later, Ben was bringing his son to get the first haircut! Crazy, huh?

Steve was VERY patient and did a great job on the Haircut! Don't worry....we saved some hair!

All three guys after their Hair Cuts........Three Generations Cut by Steve!

1st Birthday Party

2011-03-01T16:35:00.005-06:00

John Michael's 1st Birthday Party was a Success!

We had a close family party at our house. Because both Ben and I come from large families....there was about 20 people there! We are very blessed!

The Menu included the Birthday Boy's Favorite.....Chicken Nuggets from Chick-fil-a.
This is the only family picture we got with all of us looking at the camera!

Ben and I went for a useful present....we got him a backpack....I think he liked it!

We where all very excited about JM digging into the cake. He, however, was not quite sure about it.......

John Michael showed out the entire time (no breakdowns, yay!) and he LOVED playing with all his cousins!

He also enjoyed unwrapping his presents!

Turning One is So Much Fun!

2011-02-22T14:30:00.011-06:00

John Michael is Officially 1 year old!!

Ben and I are in awe! Someone asked me if I was sad on his birthday and honestly, I wasn't. I was excited and encouraged that this little bundle of a baby that was handed to us on February 16th, 2010 survived one whole year with us! :)

Here are so fun facts about John Michael at 1 Year Old:

* John Michael is officially a walker! He will occasionally crawl to get something, but most of the time, he is up and about. Just the week of his birthday, he began bending down and picking up items and straightening back up! We have slowly been child-proofing everything. We never knew how many things can get into those little hands so fast!

* 6 Teeth! 2 on Bottom and 4 on Top. When he grins, you can see them!

* John Michael can say: Mama, Dada, Hello, and Hi

* John Michael also does some great hand motions! (Pre-reg: He must be in a good mood to show you these!) If you say "Touchdown"....his two arms shot straight in the air! And if you say "How old are you?", both hands come up with one finger up!
(Picture Below: JM eating Spaghetti while practicing "Touchdown".....felt like I needed to explain the mess!)
* The boy LOVES music! No matter if it is just a commercial or the radio on, as soon as he hears it....he starts clapping and dancing. His favorite songs: the "Veggie Tales" Theme Song and (funny enough!) the "Catfish Cove" television commercial. He also loves to make music. For his birthday, he got a toy piano. It has found its way to the kitchen and he usually plays for us while we are cooking dinner!

* Food: We have mastered the sippy cup! YAY! And in the past week he has been refusing his bottle (except for the last feeding of the day). We did start adding Whole Milk to his diet on Saturday, but we are still doing some formula due to the iron levels (see below). His favorite foods are: Yogurt, Pasta Pickups, Cheerios and Applesauce. Here lately, he REALLY is interested in what his mama is eating...he wants that over whatever he has on his plate!

* He still LOVES Gravy and (recently our house guest) Gritz (the dogs). Gritz is more puppy than Gravy so the two of them (Gritz and JM) have become fast buds. They wrestle, they kiss, JM Feeds him the foods he doesn't want to eat, and they are very rough with each other....but lots and lots of laughter comes from JM.

* Haircut: Right before JM's 1st birthday, he got his first haircut! The man (Steve) who cut his hair, has been cutting Ben's hair since he was 2 Years old! It was definitely a full-circle moment!

* He is ALL boy. Just in the last month, we have received 2 phone calls from his Daycare with "Accident Reports".....none serious, but they just want to let us know (a busted lip and a bonk on the head). The boy wants to go fast, be chased, wrestled with, crawl into the smallest spaces, knock over things, and (most recently) get very very dirty outside.

* John Michael loves being outside! We have some great grass stains on his jeans! We have taken him to the local park a few times in which he loves people watching and climbing up the slide the wrong way! He also loves to go on Wagon Rides around the neighborhood and wave to all our neighbors!

* Sleeping: He goes to bed anywhere between 7:45 - 8:15 PM and sleeps until 5:30 AM. He is still our early riser (every day of the week!). He also still takes 2 naps a day.....one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

* Mama's Favorite Activity: When he gives me kisses (you know those open mouth, full of slobber kisses).
* Dada's Favorite Activity: When John Michael "reads" to us. JM will find a book, open it up and start "reading" it in his own language. Cutest. Thing. Ever. (and smart too!)

* 1 Year Doc Visit:
-- Weight: 23.2 Pounds (50% Percentile)
-- Height: 31 3/4 inches (90% Percentile!)
-- He took 4 shots like a champ!
-- At one year, our doctor does a finger prick to test the iron levels. They had to do this twice because the first prick came back too low. With the second prick, it did confirm that his iron levels where a "border line". The doctor told us not to be concerned but to try to "pump up the iron". So, we are keeping formula around a little longer, started feeding the baby cereals again (i.e., rice) and searching for all fun foods (baby cookies!) that say "iron-fortified". We will go back at 15 Months and they will test it again.

John Michael has had SUCH a big year! We cannot wait to watch him grow and change even more in this upcoming toddler year!

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for our little family throughout this first year and we continue to ask for prayers for a healthy boy and one day for John Michael to understand salvation and ask Jesus to come into his heart!

" I Prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me

what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27

Snow Snow Snow

2011-01-11T15:24:00.004-06:00

What is it about a cold door, white snow flakes, and a little boy?

LOVE.

Although we didn't get to enjoy our snow (it was entirely TOO cold!), John Michael and Gravy really enjoyed watching it come down.

2010...a Year in Review

2010-12-30T13:41:00.022-06:00

Wow...where did 2010 go?!?!?

January
I was VERY pregnant and we had a slew of wonderful baby showers to welcome "Baby C" into the world.

The baby shower dates had to be changed because we got a BIG snow!

February

Ben and I welcomed John Michael into the world on February 16th at 9:35 AM after a long night of labor!

March

Ben and I celebrated 2 Years of Marriage on March 8th!

April

We celebrated our First Easter with John Michael.

John Michael was welcomed by our church at His Baby Dedication.

May

John Michael and Ben helped me celebrate my very first Mother's Day....it quickly became a favorite holiday of mine!

My Grandparents, Calvin and Anna Burroughs, celebrated 60 wonderful years of marriage with a great dinner with Family and Friends. John Michael would be the "naked" baby in the picture.

We also went on a mini-vacation with the Burroughs clan to Mt Magazine. It was a great and relaxing time!

June

My wonderful Husband received a promotion at USA Truck to Manager of Human Resources! He also studied, took, and passed (with flying colors) his PHR Exam. I'm sure the only reason he passed was that John Michael quizzed him.....

Ben also celebrated his First Father's Day. John Michael and I spoiled him!

July

Along with the Carroll Clan, we took John Michael on his first beach vacation! The beach was quite different with a baby in tow...but we had a great and relaxing time with everyone!

August

John Michael celebrated being 6 Months Old!

September

Football Season.....need I say more?

John Michael became Mobile! He started out with a great "army" crawl!

John Michael also had his first tooth break through!

October

The three of us packed up and headed to our annual visit to Uncle Jerry's House (aka Cowboy Stadium) to cheer on the Hogs!

While in Dallas, we also where able to be apart of a very special baby dedication for our nephew, Wesley Adam.

John Michael's First Halloween! Our very cute Stinker!

November

My mom, sister, grandmother, and myself went and saw my most favorite musical, Wicked!

John Michael started Pulling up on everything! Including his crib........we had to drop his crib to the lowest level so that he couldn't fly out!
We celebrated the birth and glory day of Wesley Adam.

John Michael had a very special first Thanksgiving in Fort Worth, TX. He even tried some Mash Potatoes!

December

John Michael successfully meet Santa Clause at USA Truck and told him all the fun things he wanted for Christmas.

We celebrated an early Christmas with the Carroll's and John Michael had so much fun with all his cousins.
Santa Clause came and visited John Michael for the first time in Hot Springs! 2010 has been an exciting year.....mostly in part to the newest addition to our family.

We have had a blessed year and cannot wait to see what 2011 holds!

Us Lately (Via I-Phone)

2010-11-18T13:46:00.010-06:00

I've been Sick....but after some Good Campbell's Soup, I'm feeling better:

John Michael Loves His Daddy:

John Michael Loves His "Dado": John Michael Loves to Help Mommy Shop for the Best Deals: John Michael Definitely Knows How to Pull Up!

"Please Mom Stop With The Pictures!"

John Michael discovering (and quickly loving) MY "Security Blanket" as a Kid:

9 Month Update Coming Soon!!!

(Yes, JM is 9 Months Old!!)

Thankful For....

2010-11-18T11:20:00.004-06:00

So you see, I (Allison) have been sick, so I fell off the "Thankful for" Wagon.

So....I'm just going to do one big list of "Thankful for" for This year.

I am Thankful for......

* Jesus and his Ultimate Sacrifice
* The Bible
* My Wonderful Husband and our Awesome Marriage
* My Amazing, Healthy Son
* My Parent's and Ben's Parent's Guidance and Listening Ears
* My Mama Pat and her wonderful E-mails and DVDs
* Mama Georgia and her wonderful Letters
* Papaw Calvin and Mawmaw Anna and how hilarious they are (even when they don't mean to be!)
* MawMaw and Pawpaw Carroll and their sweet Love and Encouragement
* Our Siblings (Jennifer, Jason, John, Ashley, Lance, Jenny and Wes)
* Our Perfect and Funny Nieces (Esther, Millie, and Bri) and Nephews (Riley and Wesley Adam) * A Warm place to call Home
* Modern Medicine and Awesome Doctors (Especially this year....Dr. Rainwater and Dr. Chris)
* Gravy, the Dog
* Ben and I's Jobs
* John Michael's Sweet Teachers at Central Presbyterian
* Our Church, 1st Baptist, and our Freedom to Worship
* My Work Friends who Keep me Sane! (Emmy, Lauren, and Debbie)
* My "Mommy" Friends who Keep me from Freaking Out Multiple Times (Erin D, Lindsey K, & Jennifer K)
* My Friends who Have Known me Forever and Keep me In Check (Kara M, Taylor C, and Mary Y)
* Food! Candy! Caffeine!
* My Freedom and the right to Vote
* Awesome Photographers (Beaty Photography and Lauren Walker Freelancing!)

I know that I am Thankful for MUCH MUCH more, but here is at least a start of the list!

Hope everyone has an Awesome, Wonderful, Very Full of Turkey THANKSGIVING!

Christmas Cards (and any card for that fact!)

2010-11-17T16:35:00.002-06:00

If any of you have had a birthday within the last oh three months, you probably noticed that our family has started sending a new kind of card to you! One with at least one cutie pootie picture of John Michael wishing you to have a great day!
Some of you have asked how the heck I do it (I would love to take credit, but hey, I'm human!), well it is with Shutterfly's new card feature.
It is super cute, super easy, and super inexpensive--usually for less than what you would pay for a card at the store. (Now, if you have received a card from us or if you receive a card from us in the future...please disregard all the super easy super inexpensive talk! :))
This year they have rolled out some AWESOME Christmas Cards and honestly there is a hot debate (between Ben and I) on which one to choose...so more than likely we will order both of them! I cannot share which ones we are debating because that would ruin all the fun.

The moral of the story is that Shutterfly has some GREAT deals this year on Christmas Cards......so check them out!!

If you want to try a card out for free, they are offering 1 Free 5x7 card with using the promotion Code "CARD4U".

Hope everyone is getting into the MERRY CHRISTMAS mood!!!

Disclaimer: This is my shameless plug for www.Shutterfly.com. I must be honest that they are offering 50 free Christmas Cards to anyone who blogs about them. I do REALLY love their products though!

Amazon's Response

2010-11-11T06:20:00.002-06:00

Thanks for listening to my rant from the earlier post.

At 4 AM this morning, I received an e-mail from Amazon.com stating "This book has been taken off our site and is no longer for sale."

THANK THE LORD!!!

I am SICK Tonight

2010-11-10T21:13:00.003-06:00

Sorry folks, but I'm on my soap box tonight.

What has our world come to!?!?!

One of my most favorite websites, www.amazon.com, has decided to place a book for sale on their website called "Pedophile's Guide".

I am SHAKING i'm so upset about.

To learn more about the story, click here.

The whole idea around the book is a How-to guide on how to molest children without getting caught.

Now if you are like me, a new mom, you have received e-mail after e-mail, about joining Amazon's new "Amazon Mom" program where they can provide all kinds of baby products.

I loved the program, bought from them at least once a week.....and then they pull something like this!??!?

How can you ETHICALLY think it is ok to bombard me with advertisements about products for babies when you are selling a book (and defending it no less when questioned about it) on how to molest my child!?!?!?

THIS HOUSEHOLD will NOT be using Amazon for ANY purchases until this TRASH is taken off their site.

I know they are a huge company, and I know they could care less if I quit using them (Don't worry, I've already contacted customer service)...but if all the moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, etc etc out there quit using them, they will be forced to take down their $4.95 guide to molestation.

Thank you for letting me vent....I'm just SICK over it tonight.

Thankful for....(Day 5)

2010-11-07T08:50:00.004-06:00

An Extra Hour!!!

What a difference an hour makes!!

John Michael didn't appericate the extra hour of sleep....but it is still an extra hour with our little family!!

So....today I'm thankful that God gives it an extra hour today!

1st Halloween!

2010-11-05T16:29:00.004-05:00

Happy Halloween!

We have been enjoying such beautiful cool weather in Fort Smith....I just knew that John Michael's costume was going to be PERFECT since it was warm! Guess the weather man knew my thoughts because we woke up Halloween morning and it was HOT! So, this perfect warm costume I picked out didn't go very well!

We did make it to 3 stops:

* 1st Stop was in NWA (We had stayed at the Atkinson's after the game Saturday night) Cousin Riley and John Michael looked very cute and trick-or-treated their Nini and Dado. John Michael got one of his favorite treats..."mum mum" bars!

* 2nd Stop was to the Keifer's. We are great friends with the Keifer's and it just so happens that our boys are best friends at daycare together!! Neither John Michael nor Noah seemed too excited about their costumes.....

* 3rd Stop was to Nana and Ops. As always, Nana and Ops spoiled John Michael with a great book and lots of candy (too bad he is too young for it....guess Ben and I will just have to eat it!).

We were planning on making one more stop to our good friends the Dickinson's....but John Michael gave out and was throwing a fit in the back seat of the car....so we re-routed and went back to our house.

John Michael did a great job handing out treats at our house and loved having people come to the door!

Overall....it was a great Halloween! Next year, I plan on getting a "layering" costume so no matter the weather, we will be happy!!

Thankful for.....(Day 4)

2010-11-05T11:42:00.005-05:00

This little guy......

Do I really need to say more?

When you have a child, your life TRULY changes. But change is SUCH a good thing.

John Michael has brought SO much joy into our lives.

I cannot imagine life without this silly little man. I cannot wait to see the man he becomes!

So....today I'm thankful that God blessed Ben and I with an amazing child.

Thankful for......(Day 3)

2010-11-04T08:39:00.007-05:00

This guy......

My husband, my best friend, my partner in crime......Ben!

Ben is an amazing husband and father.

The moment he held John Michael (he was the first one to hold him), the love and devotion I saw immediatly, I fell in love all over again.

He is SO helpful and hands-on with John Michael, I couldn't have prayed for a better half!

So, today I'm thankful that God gave me a wonderful, Christian man who is the best father and husband a woman could ever ask for.

Thankful for.......(Day 2)

2010-11-03T15:11:00.006-05:00

Jesus.

The older I get.....the more and more I understand God's amazing love.

It baffles me when I hear someone say that they "don't believe in God" or that "Jesus was a good man, but that's it."

Seriously!???! Have you heard of Jesus? Have you heard of his amazing sacrifice!?!?!

" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. " John 3:16-17

Without God and Jesus....there is zero hope. No hope to see my grandfather again. No hope for John Michael to act silly with his couisn (Wesley Adam). No hope of anything good or pure. NO HOPE.

Sometimes it just hits you in the face how much Jesus loves you.

The other night, I was reading to John Michael from an awesome book (I recommend!) that we were given called "The Jesus Storybook Bible". It is so amazing because it breaks down so many stories in a way a child can understand yet shows how even stories in the Old Testament tie to Jesus in the New Testament. I was reading the story from Genesis 22 about Abraham and Issac. God had commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only and beloved son, Issac. Abraham followed God's instructions perfectly....putting him on the table and as he lift the knife, (Genesis 22:12) God Shouted "Do Not Lay a Hand on that Boy!". (WOW. Do I have faith like that???) However, the story in the "Jesus Storybook Bible" tells that although Abraham did not sacrifice his son, God did just that. Sacrifice his son for all his children that he loved so much.
I'm rocking John Michael and I'm almost in tears thinking about how much of a sacrifice that was for God to watch His Son, the perfect man, die on a awful cross.

So, this holiday season, I am praying that 1) we keep the meaning of the holidays and teach John Michael of them, 2) that I have the faith of Abraham, and 3)that I share this amazing blessing of Jesus' love with everyone I come in contact with.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

November

2010-11-02T11:02:00.003-05:00

I love love love love love the holiday season!
Thanksgiving and Christmas are by far my favorite Holidays!
Fellowship, days off, and all that food....what more could you ask for!
For the month of November and in spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm going to try to blog daily about what I (Allison) am thankful for.
(I'm stealing the idea from Lindsey Kennedy and her blog: http://thekennedytrio.blogspot.com/)
So...without further ado.....

What I Am Thankful For Today (November 2nd):
The Right the Vote

Yesterday I did the mundane (at least in America, right?) task of voting.
In Arkansas, some of the races are hot and even making national news.
As I have "grown up", I see how important voting is.
It is the one time of the year that I truly can make a difference in our real-life issues.
Primarily: Marriage (Sanctity of), Children (the right to life), Taxes, Health care, and on and on

When you think about it, it is a great blessing to have the freedom to have the Choice of who will represent your family in our governmental decisions.

Being the fascinating people we are (he he), Ben and I love election night.
Like Superbowl for politicians....see who wins, loses, and the upsets!

Today I'm thankful for God allowing us to vote (and I hope you did too!).

Happy Birthday Uncle Lance!

2010-10-28T10:52:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Uncle Lance!

Thank you for being such a great Uncle and teaching me stuff that my mom wants me to know nothing about!

Can't wait to pick up chicks with you soon!

I Love you,

John Michael

8 Months Old!

2010-10-27T16:09:00.017-05:00

John Michael turned 8 Months Old this month!

(October 16th to be exact)

WOW....it seriously seems like we were just staring at an ultrasound hearing "It's a Boy"!

In between 7 and 8 Months, my little baby has turned into a little boy (Or at least he thinks so!).
So much has changed in just 30 days!

* John Michael is an official crawling machine! His only method is the "Army" crawl and he refuses to push himself up to do a "regular" crawl. Even with this Army Crawl, the boy can move and move fast! He LOVES to be chased and he finds it even more fun when you are crawling to chase him.

* 2 TEETH!!! Yes, in 30 days John Michael has gotten 2 teeth! The 2 bottom front teeth. (No Picture because he won't stay still long enough for us to get a close up shot!)

* John Michael can say "Mama" and "Dada". "Mama" is the word most used when John Michael is not happy. "Dada" is when he is having fun!

* Food....He has started feeding himself! John Michael has started eating all sorts of fun baby foods such as puffs, cheese puffs, and yogurt melts. He gets quite frustrated when he has to eat from a bottle or even when he has to sit in his chair and we are spoon feeding him. He totally craves independence. The BEST thing about his new love of feeding himself? I (his mom) get to enjoy my dinner!

* Loves Gravy (the dog). He chases him and loves to grab a fistful of his hair. Thankfully, Gravy is so old, he typically just lays there and takes the abuse.

* He is ALL BOY. John Michael loves to be chased, wrestled with, crawl under/over things, knock over blocks and getting dirty!

* He is GROWING. He wears Size 4 Diapers and 12-18 Mth Pants and Tops.

* John Michael has grown out of his Infant Car Seat this month and now is in his "Big Boy" chair which will last pretty much through Preschool.

* JM has the BEST laugh and He LOVES to laugh when others are laughing.

* Another Big milestone: John Michael has started clapping!

* His Dad's favorite activity is right when we all get home and they rough house.

* My (his mom) Favorite activy is putting him to bed. He turns into my little baby again. He loves to be rocked and even lets me sing to him.

So....another month down and another month older.

We are trying to grab up every moment we have with him.

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,and great shall be the peace of your children.

-- Isaiah 54:13

** Remember to vote for John Michael as "Gerber's Cutest Kid". http://www.gerber.com/photo/#/vote/

His entry number is: 134092

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-25T16:16:00.005-05:00

The Dickinson's and the Carroll's have started a new tradition!
We meet up with Erin, Alan, Ella, and Drew in Pocola, OK at the Wild Things Farm for a morning of fun! I cannot wait for the boys to get a little bit older and it will be a blast!
They had a hay ride, lots of animals (baby pigs!) and a small pumpkin patch.
What is funny is that we left without even getting a pumpkin....we will do better next year! But of course we got lots of good pictures!

Hands Foot and Mouth

2010-10-22T16:57:00.003-05:00

You know the song: Head, Shoulders, Feet, and Toes.......
Well Hand Foot and Mouth is not a part of that song!
It is an awful rash and guess who has gotten it?
John Michael started running a fever last Saturday night and then by Sunday afternoon a rash had come along!
After two trips to the doctor, we have a confirmed diagnoses of "Hand Foot and Mouth Disease".
Thankfully the fever is gone and John Michael is not in any pain, but until this stinking rash goes away, he is highly contagious to any child under the age of 10.
So, he has had some great family time this week with myself, his dad, and his Nana!
There is no treatment for Hands Foot and Mouth, but there is a cream that is suppose to make it better. Because the cream has to go on his hands, he was having a problem with keeping it out of his eyes....so here is our poor child with socks on his hands! They didn't slow him down a bit!

Weekends of Fun

2010-10-12T14:41:00.012-05:00

We have had a great two weekends!

Weekend #1 (October 1st)

Ben had to go out of town for some business so......

While Ben was away, John Michael and I headed to Hot Springs for some time with my family. We had a great and relaxing time!

One of the fun things we did was Mom, Mama Pat, and I went to the Arts & Crafts Fair where I picked up this:

Weekend #2 (Oct 8th)

This past weekend Ben, John Michael, Ops, and myself loaded up and headed down to "Uncle" Jerry's House.....that is Cowboy Stadium!

We took off Friday morning and got down to Fort Worth that afternoon. We had a great hotel room at La Hotel de Mills (Aunt Jenny, Uncle Wes, Aubri, and Wesley Adam's house) and they were the best hosts! Friday night we had an awesome dinner at Babe's Chicken House....I only wish they had one of these in Fort Smith!

John Michael fell in LOVE with Aubri's wagon! (It would be a GREAT Christmas present...hint hint!!) Aubri and him took a couple of rides.

On Saturday, the Ford's (Amanda, Collin, Aunt Cindy, Uncle John, Luke, and Jay) arrived bright and early ready to cheer on Uncle Wes as he played in the Seminary flag football game!

After an exciting win for Uncle Wes, it was time to cheer on the Hogs!

John Michael and Aubri stayed with some awesome babysitters and we headed over to Cowboy Stadium. We were blown away (once again) with the size and just general coolness of it all! The game was a slight disappointment (come on Ryan Mallet!) but a win is a win is a win!

Saturday night we went back to the Mills' and hung out altogether....having lots of laughs and yet more football watching by the guys!

Sunday morning we packed up and even gained a hitchhiker....Nana joined us!

Great two weekends with family....we are so blessed!

College Education

2010-10-12T14:10:00.005-05:00

John Michael is already thinking about his future.
I think we have a Baby Mozart.....so I am betting that the money he makes from his sold-out piano concerts will pay for his college eduction:
And if that doesn't work out...he can always get a part time job doing dishes!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday and that this brought you a laugh!

PS - Remember to vote for John Michael!

http://www.gerber.com/photo/#/vote/

His entry number is: 134092

What Is On My Brain Tonight....

2010-10-10T19:54:00.003-05:00

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name....Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

John 16:22-24

Good night.....

Love, The Carroll's

I am that Crazy Mom

2010-10-05T09:11:00.002-05:00

We interrupt this broadcast to announce that I am that Crazy Mom.

You know, the one that thinks her kid is the cutest thing ever and wants to show the world.

If you would like to join my craziness :), please vote for John Michael as "Gerber's Cutest Kid".

http://www.gerber.com/photo/#/vote/

His entry number is: 134092

Thanks! :)

A Weekend of Fun and Heart Break

2010-09-27T15:47:00.004-05:00

We had a great weekend with the exception of one heart breaking Football loss.

Friday night, my parents came up and had a great time spoiling John Michael.

John Michael showed off his new toy....no, not his blanket. The door stop. Yep, it is exciting. I promise he has "real" toys!

On Saturday, Ben, John Michael, and I loaded up and headed to Springdale to spend the evening with Jennifer, Jason, and Riley.

John Michael had his first ever "real" babysitter! He seemed to have a great time while we went to the football game.

We meet up with Jenny and Wes and watched an emotionally draining game! We laughed the next day that Jenny & I really didn't get to talk because the boys were sitting in between us talking some major football strategy. After a VERY close game, we ending up losing. Oh it was sad! The saddest game I ever remember! Jenny and Wes packed up and left and Ben just sit there until I told him, ok, we really have to go, the janitors are going to be picking up soon!

We went back to Jennifer and Jason's and had a relaxing evening.

On Sunday, we drove back to Fort Smith and had a wonderful lunch with Ops, Nana, Jenny, Wes, and Aubri. Aubri was wearing the sweetest bow and John Michael was quite obsessed with it....well, wanting to eat it that is! I have to admit, seeing all the cute outfits Bri was changing in and out of, really made me want a little girl (one day, one day far down the road....no one get too excited!).

After lunch, we had a walk through the Carroll's home being built. It is a beauty! I only wished I had gotten pics!

To round up the evening, John Michael caught up on the current events:

Here's to another fun and relaxing weekend in the books!

Photo Shoot

2010-09-24T15:50:00.007-05:00

When John Michael was finishing up his 6 months, we had a photo shoot!
Our favorite photographers, Emily & Jon Beaty with Beaty Photography, met up with us and we got some great shots!
It was SO humid that evening, but they were so great with John Michael and he was very interested in the camera!
Here are some of our favorites:

They did a fantastic job, don't you think?

Go Hogs!

2010-09-22T10:26:00.003-05:00

I don't remember the last time I was so excited about Razorback Football than this coming up Saturday!

Why am I so excited......I can't put my finger on one thing...but maybe because......

* It is the first Live game I get to go to this season.

* Our family has a small rivalry....my cousin (Eric and his wife Whitney) are hard-core Bama fans and I really hope we win so that Christmas we won't get bashed the whole time!

* It is going to be a date day for Ben and I

* We get to sit with Wes, Jenny, and Wesley Adam

* My family will be there cheering with us! (My mom, dad, Jennifer, Jason, and Lance)

So hopefully the Hogs will pull through and get the Big Victory for us!

GO HOGS!

John Michael's "Ops"

2010-09-21T17:19:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow John Michael's "Ops" is having a minor surgery.
Although minor, we are asking for prayers.

Please say a quick prayer for the surgeon, a quick recovery time for Ops, and Love & patience for his outstanding nurse, "Nana"!
John Michael loves his "Ops" very much and we want to see him back on his feet fast!

You will experience God's Peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

Philippians 4:7

Weekend in Hot Springs

2010-09-20T10:12:00.004-05:00

Ben, John Michael, and I headed down to Hot Springs on Friday night and here are some highlights from our trip:

* John Michael started REALLY showing out with his army crawl. We think he was just showing out for his Uncle Jason!

* Mom, Riley, John Michael, and I took a trip to the fair to see the animals. Riley's favorite were definitely the pigs! John Michael was wide eyed the entire time!

* A late night trip with Mom, Dad, Jennifer, and I to Dairy Queen. What I learned from that trip: A road trip with the four of us would be very funny & either we would love each other more at the end or someone would be dead. :) It would be cheaper to buy everyone their own gallon of ice cream than to go the Dairy Queen and get a mini blizzard!

* My parents kept John Michael in their bedroom on Saturday night without us. So it was almost like our first overnight babysitters! John Michael made it easy on them and only woke up once at 3:30, but my mom said a pacifier worked its charm! Sadly, when 7 AM rolled around, I was awake and ready to go. Guess my body is never going to let me sleep in again!

* We had a wonderful early 80th Birthday celebration with Mama Pat on Saturday night!

* Now that my brother, Lance, has discovered the game of golf....I should just plan on Ben being MIA on Saturdays!

And on Sunday the three of us packed up and drove back to Fort Smith. Somewhere between Hot Springs and Fort Smith, John Michael grew a tooth! When we arrived in Fort Smith, he officially had his first tooth! It is the bottom center tooth. Sorry no pictures of this....John Michael would not cooperate!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:18

Twins

2010-09-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

So....all my life I have been told that I look like my mother.
From baby pictures to teen pictures to even now that I am a mom, I look like her more than ever! My hair is even turning into a darker brown like hers is!
My mother is a beautiful lady and I couldn't pick anyone else I would rather be compared to!
But....here is proof.....we really are twins:

Growing Every Day!

2010-09-17T16:40:00.008-05:00

No One can Deny that he is not growing every day!!

2 Days Before his Birthday:

Few minutes old.....

1 Month Old:

2 Months Old:

Three months Old:

Four months Old:

5 Months Old:

Six Months Old:

Seven months Old:

7 Month Stats

2010-09-17T13:28:00.008-05:00

Our Little Man is 7 Months Old!

Some Fun Facts about our 7 Month Old:

* John Michael still is very much in love with food. Not too fond of vegetables, but he loves loves loves fruits and cereal!

* No teeth still! But man, they are trying to come through.....talk about some drool!

* John Michael loves to chat it up and he has the sweetest laugh!

* Favorite activity: "wrestling" (Aka rolling around) with his dad!

* Loves to be outdoors and swinging.

* Really has discovered Gravy (the dog) and thinks he is way too funny! (And Secretly, I think Gravy loves him too!)

* VERY close to crawling. When he is motivated (i.e. a phone is not in his arm length) he does an "army" crawl to get to it! We tell him that Uncle Jason will be very proud!

7 Months has been a little tougher number for Ben and I to shallow.
I mean, if you "round up" he is a year old!
Time is FLYING folks! We want to bottle up every moment!

We thank the Lord for our Sweet Blessing!

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Guess who is 7 Months Old!?!?

2010-09-16T10:59:00.003-05:00

If you guessed John Michael you are correct!
This means we are closer to a year....WOW!

More stats shortly......

Visit from Mamaw and Papaw Carroll

2010-09-13T16:17:00.006-05:00

Mamaw and Papaw Carroll came all the way from Ashdown, AR to visit!
We were so excited to see them! Amanda, our cousin who just started at the University of Arkansas, also came down to enjoy some fun!
We had a great and relaxing weekend and John Michael really enjoyed all the attention!

Saturday, Papaw was gracious enough to help Ben put up a swing for John Michael on our back porch. John Michael CANNOT get enough of it! Ben and I are also enjoying the fact that we can all be on the porch in this great weather!
Saturday evening everyone came to our house and helped Call the Hogs to Victory!

Amanda was also a HUGE help as John Michael decided to start teething again this weekend. Saturday night she helped calm him down and put him back asleep and Ben & I didn't even know until Sunday! Thanks again Amanda!

(See below....No teeth yet! It is going to be a long couple of days!)
We cannot wait for our next visit with everyone!

Search for the Lord and His Strength; Continually Seek Him.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Labor Day Goodness

2010-09-07T14:01:00.012-05:00

What a wonderful weekend we had! It was a fun and most relaxing weekend!

Friday night we took advantage of the amazing weather and we hung out on our porch.

Saturday morning we woke up with HOG fever!!!

The four of us (John Michael, Ben, Gravy, and Allison), packed us and drove to NW Arkansas. John Michael and Allison got to hang out with Jennifer, Riley, Nene and Poppa. We stayed in the comfort of their home and watched the game on PPV. Ben and Jason went to the game.

John Michael had such a great time with Cousin Riley!
Riley would push JM around......

He LOVED the swing! It is on our list to get one for our porch on our next shopping trip!

Game Time!

Bath Time!

Giving Good night kisses to Aunt Jennifer.....

Cousin Riley Being Silly.......

The Paci Club.....

On Saturday, after a Scumptious breakfast, we headed back to Fort Smith.

That evening, it was the VERY anticipated, VERY important, Family Fantasy Football Draft. There was a lot of trash talking....so much so that John Michael Passed out from all the excitement.......Just saying that I (Allison) have the best team....but who is bragging!?!?

On Monday we Celebrated Jenny's Birthday! 27 years young....right Jenny!??!!

Jenny and her Birthday Present.......

Monday Night we had a little fun with the Baby Scales.....According to the 1983 Baby Scales that my parents let us borrow, JM is 19.5 pounds!

To Wrap up the whole weekend:

Bottle.....

Bath....

Bed Time......

Hope everyone has a great week!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Toys, Toys, Everywhere!

2010-09-03T16:45:00.011-05:00

John Michael has grown up so much these past six months! It is crazy how fast he is growing and each day seems to come a new discovery in his life! He is a busy-body and now requires entertainment!

He has his favorite things:

* Gravy (the Dog)

* Sitting up!

* His Blanket

* His Walker! His favorite thing.....to chase Gravy with it!!! (Gravy is NOT impressed)

* When his teacher fixes his hair!

* Sophie, the Giraffe (DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT HER!)

* Rubber Ducky and Splashing in the Bath!

* His Praise Baby Video.....however, he only makes it about 1 Song!

This little man is so much fun! We cannot wait to see what his other "favorites" in life will be!

Trip to Fort Worth

2010-09-03T16:06:00.015-05:00

This past weekend, the three of us loaded up in Ops' Suburban and headed down to Fort Worth to see Jenny, Wes, Aubri, and Wesley Adam.

We left Friday afternoon and had a great meal waiting for us!

On Saturday, John, Ashley, Emelia, and Esther arrived and we got to spend a very relaxing weekend together! John Michael LOVED the time with his cousins! Here are some pictures we took when we walked to a pond that is close to Wes and Jenny's house:

On Sunday, we were so honored to be able to attend Wesley Adam's Baby Dedication. The dedication was beautiful and we left the service knowing that the entire church would be praying for and taking care of the Mills' family. What a blessing!

We packed up and left Sunday afternoon and Nana joined us! On the way home, we had the lovely encounter of a blow-out (and we are not talking about tires!) and had the pleasure of changing a VERY nasty diaper on the side of the middle-of-nowhere Oklahoma!

" The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His People with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Our Newest Nephew!

2010-08-31T16:28:00.005-05:00

Meet our amazing nephew….Wesley Adam Mills, Jr!

To his Aunt Allison and Uncle Ben, he is perfect and beautiful in every way!!!

With a broken heart, we have to tell you that God is going to be calling Wesley Adam home before we really want him too.

The doctors have found that Wesley Adam has anencephaly. This means that the portion of the neural tube that forms the brain does not close. Consequently, infants with this condition lack parts of their brain, skull, and scalp. They are often born without a forebrain and a cerebrum. Life outside the womb is suspected to be minutes.

Although we are heart broken, we will have the joy of seeing Wesley Adam's life through watching Jenny grow.

This summer I (Allison) read a book "I Will Carry You" and the author had a line, that at the time really made an impression on me and now more than ever it rings true. This is the statement she made when the couple received devastating news about their baby.....

"My Jesus is the same as He was before I walked through that door

He is still the same, He hasn't Changed."

Just because of this diagnosis, Jesus did not change. He is still our Heavenly Father who grieves with us and has joy with us. Even though this is devastating news and we are heartbroken, he is still Jesus, the Giver of Life.

I ask anyone who reads this to pray......

* Pray that Wesley Adam's life will be used for a greater purpose than we could ever imagine.

* Pray for a miracle….God is the Giver of Life!

* Pray that God will show through this and that His Will be done, even if it breaks our hearts.

* Pray for Jenny, Wes, and Wesley Adam's sweet sister Aubri to have joy and be comforted in this time.

* Pray for Wesley Adam's Nana and Ops, Uncle Ben, Uncle John, Aunt Ashley, and Aunt Allison.

We appreciate any and all prayers and you interceding on our behalf as we know prayer is a VERY powerful thing!

Feel free to follow Wesley Adam and his family on: http://wjmills.blogspot.com/

You've kept track of my every toss and turn

through the sleepless nights,

Each tear entered in Your ledger,

each ache written in Your book.

Psalm 56:8

6 Month Doctor's Appointment

2010-08-20T13:56:00.003-05:00

We survived the Doctor....all three of us!

John Michael fell in love with the paper they put on the exam table!

The doctor confirmed....he is growing!!!

Height: 28 Inches (90% Percentile)

Weight: 17 Pounds 14 Ounces (50% Percentile)

The poor baby did have to get his ears emptied out (the doctor says he is a 'waxy' baby) and got a total of 4 vaccines (3 in his legs, 1 orally).

He handled them like a pro and only cried for a little bit!

We are so thankful for a healthy visit!

Yucky Shot Day :(

2010-08-19T10:01:00.006-05:00

Say a prayer for this happy boy....today is his 6 month shot day!

Ben and I are NOT looking forward to today.

2 months and 4 months were bad enough with those eyes and the tears....but at 6 months when he HATES to be laid down and not only that, he will be stuck 4 times....it is NOT going to be fun.

I just keep telling myself it is for his good that we do this!

HAPPY 1/2 BIRTHDAY!!!

2010-08-17T09:18:00.023-05:00

Can you believe it?!?! We sure cannot!

John Michael is 6 months old!!!!

What John Michael has been Up to:

* He LOVES to eat! First and foremost, he loves milk! He has also started to enjoy solids. So far he has had: Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Peas, Prunes, and Apples. So far his favorites have been Prunes (yuck!) and apples (Yum!).

* He LOVES his daddy. One of his favorite things to do is to roll around and "wrestle" with his dad! John Michael is definitely "All Boy" and loves when he gets to rough around. His dad says he has one mean punch!

* He has his first security toy. He WILL NOT nap nor sleep without his blanket. (See the light blue blanket below?) It is about a foot x foot silk blanket. We have already bought another one as a "back up". (probably need to go buy the store out soon!)

* He loves to play! He really likes his exerciser at home; but his real love is the bouncers at school. When you are holding him, he does everything to make you bounce him!

* If he is awake, he DOES NOT like to be laid flat, he wants to see the world! He LOVES to sit and stand! The only problem? John Michael has not quite mastered the sitting alone so this requires mom and dad's full attention.....hmmmmm....I bet he is a genius and has just figured out how to keep our attention all the time! :)

* He LOVES his paci! It is going to be an awful, awful day when we have to break him of that habit!

* He has discovered and really LOVES Gravy (the dog). He thinks he is funny and tries everything to grab onto his ears!

* He has the SWEETEST laugh and is VERY ticklish!

* He LOVES his fingers and his toes. He believes they were put on his body for him to eat!

* His mommy's favorite thing: He loves to be rocked to sleep and He even lets me sing!

* He is a GREAT traveler. He has been to: Many places in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. He does require mom and dad occasionally in the backseat, but all in all, he is a great backseat driver!

* He LOVES to sleep! He typically enjoys 3 naps a day ranging from 1 - 2 hours. He goes to bed at 10 PM and happily greets us at 6 AM. We always put him down to sleep on his back, but never ever ever do we find him that way when we check on him! He LOVES to sleep on his side or his stomach.

* He LOVES his bath and the swimming pool. He LOVES to kick and splash around! Beware if you are giving a bath, you will be wet head to toe!

* He "talks". He loves to chat and has a very loud excited screech! The only thing....when there is a lot going on, he is very serious. He loves to look around and think about it before he starts chatting!

John Michael has been such a sweet baby to Ben and I. We have so enjoyed watching him grow, learn, and show that too cute personality!

We go to the doctor on Thursday for another round of shots and to find out how big and tall our little man has gotten!

" I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him" -- 1 Samuel 1:27

The Lord has given Ben and I much more than we ever could have prayed for with John Michael.

Growing!

2010-07-06T21:22:00.006-05:00

John Michael is growing and here is proof......

A Few Minutes old....

One Month Old....

Two Months Old.....

3 Months Old....

4 Months Old....

And only a few more days and he will be 5 Months old!! Boy has time flown! We are enjoying EVERY minute.....

Food!

2010-07-05T15:31:00.006-05:00

Believe it or not, our little man has started foods!

It is amazing to us that he is old enough to eat from a spoon.

And he LOVES it! So far, he has only eaten rice cereal and oatmeal....next week we will start the "hard" stuff....that is veggies!

Here are some pictures from the first feeding (Both him and I have gotten better since then!):

Clean up!

Toys

2010-06-11T16:57:00.004-05:00

John Michael has discovered his hands which means he has also discovered toys!

He is such a joy to Ben and Myself......he talks and plays!

We Have Survived!

2010-06-03T15:33:00.008-05:00

John Michael started daycare on Tuesday and so far, so good!

He is in a room with 2 teachers and only 2 more babies (an 8 week old and 9 month old), so he is getting LOTS of attention! The teachers have been so sweet and fight over who gets JM. Seems he is the "easy" baby!

I have not let go all the way....I'm still going at lunch each day to see him and I love our mid-day hour together.

Here are some pictures of my growing boy......

Lake and Beach Ready:

My Lunch Date....up close and personal:
My country boy:

Go Hogs (I LOVE this onsize):

Memorial Day with Mimi, Poppa, and Mama Pat!

The boy loves his bath time:

Calling all Moms

2010-06-01T16:58:00.002-05:00

Does anyone out there have a car bottle warmer? We are going to be going on a long road trip this summer and it will be easier to give John Michael a bottle than to nurse, so we are looking to purchase one! Let me know if you have an opinion about a car bottle warmer......either good or bad!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Growing So Fast

2010-05-20T15:43:00.008-05:00

Before we had John Michael, I could not tell you how many people told us to cherish each moment because it goes so fast. I never understood how true this was! John Michael is growing up SO fast!!

JM has his own personality, gives the BEST smiles, and is exploring everything.

Facts about John Michael at 3 Months:

* HATES with a passion being burped. He does not understand it and does not like it!

* He is a "Hot" baby. He sweats just like his daddy! He loves to sleep in just a diaper.

* He has discovered his hands and cannot get enough of them....his favorite place to have them, his month.

* He is also like his daddy that he loves the mornings. After he has eaten, he his all about kicking and talking. Ben and John Michael have a special time in the morning as Ben dresses him for the day!

* He can roll from back to front and front to back.....however, catching him in the act is hard to do. He so loves to be on his side and in the mornings, we typically find him at the opposite end of his crib on his side sound asleep.

We love our little man and feel so blessed to have him around!

Dad and John Michael: Who you looking at? Loves the outdoors:

According to the Poll Facility, John Michael was the youngest voter they had seen all day! He helped his mom with making important voting decisions!

Life with John Michael

2010-05-04T14:10:00.005-05:00

Loving our time with our Little Boy!

This is us Multi-tasking....1) Laundry, 2) keeping a baby entertained!

Our good friends, the Cromwell's, came this past weekend to see John Michael. With them, they brought a very cute outfit! I'm not kidding when I say Ben put him in the outfit Saturday, Sunday, and Monday!! John Michael seemed to enjoy making a mess in it each day so no worries...it was washed each time!

Baby Dedication

2010-04-21T20:45:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday, Ben and I went before our church and made the statement that we would raise John Michael to be a follower for Christ. It was a special day and we had a lot of family that made the trip! We are so thankful for our family and our church family.

8 Weeks Old!!

2010-04-14T10:35:00.005-05:00

John Michael was 8 Weeks old yesterday!

It is CRAZY how fast he is growing.

Current Stats:
* Weight: 10 Pounds, 4 Oz
* He Can ROLL over!
* He smiles (and no it is not gas!)

We are very proud parents if you can't tell!

Question

2010-04-08T16:05:00.002-05:00

Since going back to work, we have found MUCH success in meals that are frozen that I can make up on the weekends and then just put on bake delay to cook in the oven before we get home from work.

However, I am running out of recipes. If there are any blog stalkers out there and you have a recipe for something I can makeup on the weekend, then freeze, I would LOVE to have it!

Hope everyone is having a good Thursday!

6 Weeks Old

2010-04-01T13:59:00.006-05:00

John Michael is Officially 6 Weeks old!!!

6 Weeks old means that mommy had to go back to work, but he has had a great two days. Yesterday (Wednesday) he spent the whole day with his daddy and they had a great father/son day! Today he is spending the day with his Nana for her Birthday!

Here are some more recent pictures of John Michael:

His favorite activity.....sleep!

Check out this neck control!!

Mommy's Favorite.....I throw some smiles around!

Happy Birthday!

2010-03-19T18:48:00.006-05:00

John Michael turned 1 Month Old on March 16th! We cannot believe how much he has changed already! His favorite activity....to kick! He also LOVES to lift up and look around!

On March 17th, we celebrated Allison's Birthday and John Michael was dressed up for the occasion!

New Pictures

2010-03-11T14:49:00.002-06:00

When John Michael was 2 weeks old, two of our favorite photographers (Beaty Photography) came to our house and took some awesome shots of him!
They have put their favorites on their website, http://www.beatyphotography.com/john-michael-newborn/.
We ADORE them and hope you like them too!
We need your help though.....the photographers are having a contest as to how many comments we can get and we think John Michael deserves some! :)
When you go look at the pictures, make sure to leave a comment. (just one comment per e-mail counts)
The prize is money towards pictures (i.e., pictures to give to everyone!).
Hope you like them!!!
Thanks in advance for your sweet comments!

2 Years Ago.....

2010-03-08T18:29:00.006-06:00

I married my best friend! :)

Happy 2 Year Anniversary.....what a difference 2 years makes.....a family of three!

To celebrate our anniversary, we had our first true babysitting experience where both Ben and I were out of the house....

And we didn't call once! :)

Pictures from the Hospital

2010-03-06T14:03:00.006-06:00

We received the pictures that were taken when John Michael was one day old in the hospital! It is amazing how much he has changed in only 2 and 1/2 weeks!

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins

2010-03-04T19:56:00.009-06:00

John Michael is blessed to have so many wonderful cousins!

He has three girl cousins (who I'm sure will teach him how to play with Barbie's! :)): Esther, Millie, and Aubri.

He has one boy cousin, Riley Jackson....who I'm sure will teach him how to be "all" boy!

We cannot wait to see them all grow up together!

John Michael and Aubri Meeting for the first time:

John Michael's oldest cousin, Esther....being such a good babysitter!

John Michael and Millie....I see these two getting in trouble in a few years together!

John Michael and Riley Jackson meeting for the first time:

Proud Grandparents:

Happy 2 Weeks!

2010-03-03T13:20:00.007-06:00

John Michael has been apart of this world for 2 weeks now!

He is growing everyday and we couldn't be happier.

Here are some new pictures:

Cousin Riley meeting for the first time!

John Michael's favorite place to sleep, on his daddy!

Bath time!
Go hogs!

Proud to Announce....

2010-02-21T19:31:00.007-06:00

The long awaited arrival of John Michael Carroll.

John Michael started to make his way into the world Monday night, February 15th at 5:37 PM.

On Tuesday morning, February 16th at 9:35 AM he finally arrived!

We are VERY proud parents and think he is perfect in EVERY way.

John Michael was born at 7 Pounds 12 Oz (surprised us all!) and 21 inches long.

He is named after his great-grandfather, John Hall (Allison's side) and "Michael" is his dad's middle name!

He is coming!

2010-02-15T13:53:00.002-06:00

Ben and I had a great appointment with the doctor today.
She predicts that Baby C will be here within the next 24 hours....but hey, she has been wrong before!
So, just in case we have set his birthday for Thursday, February 18th!
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers! Cannot wait to post pictures!

39 Weeks and Counting

2010-02-14T20:54:00.005-06:00

If you didn't know already, Ben and I are READY to have this little boy in our arms!

Today marks 39 weeks!

Please say a prayer for us and the decisions we will have to make tomorrow at the doctor about deciding Little Man's Birthday!

Ben has been busy this week putting together the last few "some assembly required":

Pictures!

2010-02-14T20:39:00.005-06:00

Our good Friends (Jon and Emily) from Beaty Photography shot some awesome pics of us (and the little man in my tummy)!

Doctor Update

2010-02-11T13:18:00.001-06:00

Ben and I went to the doctor today and Baby C seems to be QUITE comfortable!
We go back to the doctor on Monday and if he still isn't here, we will be planning his arrival date!
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!

We are GROWING!

2010-02-10T21:31:00.004-06:00

Ben and I are both surprised to still be "just the two of us"!

At our last appointment, our Doctor told us to expect him here before the weekend was over.....obviously we made it a little longer!

Because of the weather, our appointment was postponed until tomorrow, Thursday. We are anxious to see what she has to say!!

Here are some pics of our ever growing boy (and an anxious mommy)!!

Showers!

2010-02-10T21:17:00.006-06:00

Snow....it caused a few complications! We had two Baby Showers scheduled for Saturday, January 31st in Fort Smith...but nature caused them to be postponed!

We were able to quickly reschedule and TRULY appreciated all the working around scheduling.

The first shower was thrown by four of my best friends....Erin Dickinson, Mary Young, Taylor Carter, and Kara Morehart. Sadly Taylor and Kara couldn't make it because of the wonderful icy roads, but we had a great turnout. We are SOO thankful for great friends!

Also, my parents braved the snow and ice and surprised us! :)

The Second Shower was thrown by the ladies of our Sunday School Class. It was really special to be able to get together with all the ladies from the church and get LOTS to tips from new mommies!

Snow Weekend

2010-02-10T21:10:00.006-06:00

Fort Smith has received WAY too much snow!
We got snowed in and it caused a few complications with scheduling. However, looking back, I think it was God's way of requiring Ben and I to relax because we couldn't physically go anywhere!

Work Shower

2010-02-10T21:00:00.005-06:00

My co-workers threw Ben, Little Man, and I a fabulous shower! It was one of those times when you look around and truly take in how blessed I am to work with a great group of people. I, of course, forgot to take a picture with the hostess....but they had THE CUTEST decorations ever!

Yes, that is Ben and Me on the Door!

The Amazing Cake...it was the BEST icing!

I have NEVER seen anything like this! My co-worker, Lauren, made this! It is a "flower" bouquet made out of baby socks!!!

Ben loading up the goods!

Hot Springs Baby Shower!

2010-01-24T20:56:00.008-06:00

Ben and I are so blessed with amazing friends and family.

This past weekend, we had an amazing shower in hot Springs.

We have received so many encouraging words and amazing gifts!

The Very Handy Cake:

The Hostesses:

Posing with the Gifts:

Christmas and Aubri's First Birthday!

2010-01-24T20:38:00.006-06:00

This year we did "Christmas with the Carroll's" over New Year's Eve. It was the PERFECT time because Ben and I both got Friday off and we were also able to celebrate our niece's wonderful 1st Birthday!

We were blessed with so many laughs (and no falls this time! :)) and many gifts. Of course, our "big" gift that we got this year was a new camera....and we opened it last, so we don't have any pictures with opening presents!

We do have pictures from Ms. Aubri's 1st Birthday! It was so much fun and she was PRECIOUS the entire time!

Here are some pictures from the event:

Christmas 2009

2010-01-11T19:16:00.012-06:00

This year, it truly was shocking how fast Christmas came!

As in Tradition, this was our year to spend Christmas in Hot Springs with the Burroughs Family.

We had a great time....lots of eating, naps, playing with new toys and laughing.

Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year and it was fun to see Riley (our nephew) understand it a little more! He sang a PERFECT rendition of "Away in a Manager"!

As you can tell by the pictures....Baby C is ever growing!

31 Weeks Pregnant

Gravy was even good....Santa came to see him!

The Annual Christmas Eve Party!!

Lance's Traditional sign.....

Our growing family....hard to believe there will be a little one in the picture next year!

The Burroughs Family....

UCA Grad!

2010-01-11T19:09:00.006-06:00

This year we started off the Christmas Season with a trip to UCA to see my brother, Lance, graduate with his Master's Degree in Business. We are very proud of him!

After graduation, we went out for a yummy celebration dinner at Mike's Place in Conway.

WAY TO GO Lance!

Check out our Handsome Boy!

2009-12-21T17:29:00.004-06:00

Today Ben and I got the last glimpse of our Baby Boy before we are holding him in our arms! Baby Boy Carroll did show us his face! See his profile below:
We got a good report from the doctor and he is HEALTHY......he is currently weighing 4 pounds 4 oz and the average is 3 Pounds! Don't worry, the doctor has been told a thousand times that my family grows babies big; however, she told us not to worry about it yet....just be happy that we have a healthy baby!

We cannot believe it is almost time!

God's Blessing

2009-12-01T14:27:00.002-06:00

I have received the "phone call" and we DO NOT have diabetes!
TRULY an answer to prayers!
Thank you everyone who has been praying!!

Thanksgiving, Falls, Christmas Tree, and Sugar

2009-11-29T21:10:00.007-06:00

We had a very interesting and fun Thanksgiving Weekend.

First we were able to see Joe and Cara from Conway on Wednesday night and catch up! It was so great to see them! We then stopped by the Carroll's and got to see everyone for a bit before taking a bus load home with us! The Ford's came to stay with us for the holiday.

(Sorry for the lack of pictures....because I was "injured", Ben was in charge of taking the pictures.....)

On Thursday, we headed over to the Carroll's and had a wonderful Breakfast. As we were trying to work off breakfast and get our tummies ready for the grand event.....Ben was being "schooled" by his cousin Luke on basketball and I was playing with Esther and Millie. At this time, I thought it would be a good opportunity to take a little tumble in the driveway and delay our eating for a few more hours! Not to worry....Baby C is perfect and was not affected by the fall. As soon as I realized I was going down, I threw myself to the side in order not to land on the tummy! We spent a few hours at the ER and come away with a "chip" fracture on the ankle and some torn ligaments. Because of this, I will be a little slower for the weeks to come.

After the adventure at the hospital, we were able to come back and enjoy a WONDERFUL meal and spend time with everyone throughout the weekend. I did miss out on Black Friday and for some reason couldn't convince Ben to go in my place!

Today to get us in the Christmas mood, we pulled out the decorations! Our house looks (and smells!) like Christmas now!

Tomorrow is the dreaded glucose tolerance test and now with the extra burden of the crutches....please pray for strength and courage to get through the day! We appreciate all the prayers!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!

Third Trimester Update

2009-11-24T20:30:00.010-06:00

It's been awhile....so let me update everyone! (Below is a picture of our growing baby--and belly--for those who have been asking!)

As of today, we are 27 weeks 2 days! That means it is only 12 weeks 5 days to the due date...crazy, huh? (A little stressful for this woman still!) We have a wonderful little man that showed out again yesterday at our appointment....strong and LOUD heartbeat. Always puts a smile on our face!

Some exciting news.....the nursery is slowly coming together!

We have our baby bedding in! And it is all boy and all cute! We received the bumper, comforter, dust ruffle, and crib sheet. We hope to get some of the other pieces after we complete the nursery and see what is still needed! Some pictures of the bedding arriving:

We also have the crib. It is beautiful! Below are pictures of my favorite handy man putting it together:

We also have purchased the paint, and after Thanksgiving we plan on getting that on the walls and ready to go!

On some not so fun news: Yesterday at my doctor's appointment I had my glucose tolerance test. Today the nurse called and I failed the test. What does that mean? It means that after midnight on Sunday night I cannot eat or drink anything. I have to go in at 8 AM and from 8 to noon, I have to get my blood taken on the hour. And cannot eat a thing. I don't know what scares me more.....not eating all morning or getting my blood taken. I ask for prayers for: 1) that I pass this test and that the first was a false positive (meaning no diabetes), 2) that God gives me the strength (and courage!) to make it through the morning, and 3) for Ben....well he is the husband (and father) and I know it is not going to be a fun time for him either! Thank you for all the prayers!!!

We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. We truly feel blessed by our family and friends!

Our Funny Baby

2009-10-26T11:56:00.002-05:00

This morning I had my 23rd week doctor appointment (yes, it is crazy we are already at 23 weeks!). Our Funny Baby didn't want us to hear his heartbeat today. He was moving all around. Finally, the doctor was able to pin him down and we got a few beats.....that is until he decided he didn't like it and started kicking the machine! It was hilarious! He did not want us to hear his heartbeat and he was violently kicking trying to get it the machine off of him!
Everything is looking great....good growth, good weight gain, and good blood pressure. Next appointment is the dreaded glucose test, but at least we will get to hear him again (that is, if he will let us!).

Flu Free

2009-10-23T15:58:00.002-05:00

After much debate and much talking with our Doctor (and nurse!), we decided it was best that I get the H1N1 Shot. Happy to report that Sebastian County got a shipment in yesterday and I received mine this morning! Hoping for a flu-free pregnancy (and flu-free daddy too!) but taking the proper precautions just in case!!
Hope everyone is staying healthy!

Owen - Carter Wedding

2009-10-12T20:33:00.005-05:00

This past weekend, I was honored to be a bridesmaid for one of my best friends. Taylor Owen married Nate Carter! :) She was a BEAUTIFUL bride and she picked out a fabulous bridesmaid dress.....one that I ordered pre-pregnancy (and without the thought of pregnancy in my mind) that worked out perfectly! Congrats to the happy couple and thanks for letting the Carroll's be a part of your day!

Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair

2009-10-12T20:25:00.003-05:00

Ben and I's first "official" date was at the AR- OK state fair and we have since made it a tradition! This was our 5th time going!! We especially didn't want to miss this year, because who knows if we will be able to attend next year! We had a great "date" night.....some crazy fattening food and then the Gary Allen Concert!

Dallas Trip

2009-10-12T20:18:00.004-05:00

We had an awesome weekend in Dallas for the big Arkansas - Texas A & M game. The stadium was AMAZING, but more fantastic was the great time we had together with everyone from the Carroll Family! Here are some pics from the weekend!

Our Active Boy

2009-10-06T09:17:00.001-05:00

Baby Boy Carroll is a morning person, which could be bad for me, his mother!
He is most active (kicking and punching) from about 8:45 - 11:00.....I think it is because I'm at work and he wants me to remember he is around! :)
Just wanted to give you an update on our little man!

An EXCITING DAY!!!

2009-09-28T13:11:00.002-05:00

Ben and I are proud to announce that we will be welcoming a BABY BOY in February.
He has made us VERY PROUD parents already and according to me (his mother) he is already perfect and wonderfully made!
We PROMISE to post pictures tonight!
Please continue to pray that our growing BOY continues to stay healthy!

Monday is the Day!

2009-09-25T15:10:00.001-05:00

Monday, as long as Baby C cooperates, we will find out if we will be having Baby Boy or Baby Girl Carroll! We are too excited! Anyone have a guess of which it will be? Ben and I truly have NO idea!!!

Oh the Hogs....

2009-09-20T15:12:00.003-05:00

Ben and I went with the other Carroll's to the AR- GA game. The game started out perfect....good touchdowns....and well we better not talk about the ending!
We did have a fabulous time and got some pics!

It's Growing!!!

2009-09-17T20:08:00.003-05:00

It is just a little over a week away until we can say "Baby Girl" or "Baby Boy" Carroll and we are WAY excited. For all the requests, here is the newest picture! I'm still getting used to have a tummy and not feeling the need to do crunches everyday! :)

Catching Up!

2009-09-17T19:55:00.006-05:00

Here lately it seems we cannot stay "on top" of the blogging scene. So....here comes some recapping!

* Over Labor Day Weekend, we stayed in the Good Ol' Fort Smith and had lots of Carroll Family Fun. Ben got 2 whole rounds of golf in and the girls spoiled me with a shopping trip to Motherhood Maternity. Even Esther helped me pick out some new preggo threads! We did find ourselves in last place of the "Family Olympics"; however, we still tried our best!!! Of course each day we forgot our camera at home and didn't get any pictures.....especially of our adorable nieces!!! Esther, Millie, and Aubri seem to get bigger each time we see them!!! We only wish they lived closer so that we could take more frequent Chuckie-Cheese Visits!!! We PROMISE to do better next time!

* This past weekend we had a wonderfully relaxing weekend in Branson. Mom and Dad found a great cabin that had four bedrooms and was so quiet! It was tucked away yet we were able to make it to the mall within minutes! Mom, Dad and Mama Pat were awesome and prepared wonderful meals so all we had to do was shop and relax! Riley is getting sooo big! Here are some pictures of this past weekend:

Blossoming Baby Belly...

2009-09-09T21:47:00.006-05:00

So "the fam" and our friends have been on us about posting some updated pictures of my wife's baby bump. So I'm pleased to announce that your wait is over...I'll even give you an earlier picture to give you an easy comparison.

Here is Allison at 10 weeks back in July...

And today...September 9, 2009...

See any difference? :)

Fun Times

2009-08-16T21:41:00.006-05:00

We have been busy the past couple of weekends, so we need to get you caught up!

First, last weekend we where given Arkansas Traveler Baseball Tickets from an ABF Sales rep so we decided to take advantage! We drove in to Little Rock on Saturday afternoon and headed to the ball field. Lance joined us and we had a blast! We had a great dinner at the ball field restaurant (where I got a MUCH needed fried pickle fix). We watched a great game (against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals) all included with the manager getting kicked out of the game! We then spent the night with Lance (who selflessly gave up his bed! What a great Brother!!).

Here are some pics:

This weekend, we had a FUN "baby" weekend. We started in Fort Smith and took a trip around Northwest Arkansas checking out all different styles, colors, materials, etc of cribs! Yes, cribs! We are quite excited about Baby C and decided it was a good time to start looking. We have found what we like, so we are now deciding to get it now (it takes 6-12 weeks) or wait until (maybe) a sale happens! We will keep you posted! Saturday night we met up with Jennifer, Jason, and Riley for an outing to PF Chang's and (Riley & I's favorite) Cold Stone Creamery! Ben and I had a great time and made a promise to each other that when we come back from NW Arkansas, we are either leaving before the sun goes down, or we are staying the night. Let's just say, we say at least 10 deer, and the scariest, a buck with BIG horns just hanging out in the median!

Energy has been my biggest challenge during these 13 weeks, so today I got ready for church and then was promptly told to go get back in bed.....seems I didn't look well. After throwing a fit, I finally conceded. Ben made me sleep to make up for Saturday, and we caught some of Brother Dale's message on TV. We missed going to church and pray that next weekend we will not work so hard on Saturday!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Strong Heartbeat

2009-08-05T13:14:00.002-05:00

I had an impromptu doctor's appointment today. Everything is fine, but had to get something checked out to be sure!
After they ran some lab work, they told me the doctor wanted to see me. Now, I didn't think this trip was that important because they where "squeezing" me in and I was just seeing the nurse, so I told Ben there was no need to come.
Well, guess what?!?! I got to hear a strong heartbeat! The doctor was just wanting to check on everything and I was able to hear Baby C beating strong! It was amazing!
Ben is EXTREMELY jealous, but there was no way I was telling that doctor that I was going to wait!
Thanks for all your prayers and support!

So Sleepy.....

2009-08-04T10:15:00.002-05:00

For all the women out there....is there any miracles that can make the sleepiness go away during pregnancy?

One More Post for Millie

2009-07-30T22:38:00.006-05:00

Mille's birthday party theme is "Motorcycles".....so Millie since we can't be there....we decided to join in the fun in Fort Smith!

Happy (Early) Birthday Millie!

2009-07-30T22:19:00.005-05:00

Our 2nd beautiful niece, Emelia Louise, is turning the BIG three on Saturday! We are the proudest Aunt and Uncle! We hope you have an awesome day and birthday Millie! We love you!

Wicked!

2009-07-28T14:44:00.006-05:00

This past weekend my mom, Kara, Amanda (Cousin!), and two of her Ashdown Friends all went to go see "Wicked" in Tulsa. It was amazing! We had a ton of fun and I didn't get in trouble for signing to much! Here are some pics I took on my iphone:

SURPRISE!!! WE ARE PREGNANT!!!

2009-07-27T23:40:00.000-05:00

We are absolutely THRILLED to be able to share the first ever pictures and videos of "Little C," the newest member of the Carroll family! These are from our first ultrasound when Allison was at 9 weeks and 1 day...it was simply amazing! Little C's arrival is expected to be February 22nd...

A Little Reassurance...again...and AGAIN!

2009-07-27T23:30:00.000-05:00

When it comes to a pregnacy, a little reassurance doesn't hurt right? So, following this philosophy, we managed to take four pregnancy tests in a 36 hour period. Four tests, four positives. Here is Ben with all the results...four-for-four!

We then went ahead and broke the news to Gravy that our little family is growing. It didn't appear that Gravy shared the same enthusiasm as Allison and I. I've always claimed that Gravy is a pretty intelligent canine, perhaps he is aware of the inevitable truth that he is on the verge of being OUTRANKED.

The next step after telling Gravy.....a trip to the book store!

To give you an idea for the weeks to come......this is a picture on July 26th....Happy 10 Weeks!
This is Allison now: