Nolan at 13 months

Our sweet little boy is growing up so fast! Our good friend Rachael Rolling is getting into photography and took some adorable pics of our little man earlier this month at the Botanical Gardens. I had so many favorites, but here are just a few I wanted to share...

New edition to our family!!!

Meet Daisy...our newest edition to the family. We adopted her today at the Shelby County Humane Society. She is 2 years old and such an adorable white, black and spotted Terrier mix! She has such a sweet face and her precious eyes just won us over:) She's a little on the shy side, but with lots of love we will help her to quickly warm up! We couldn't bring her home today because they're going to fix her on Monday. She'll be ready for us to take home on Tuesday afternoon and we couldn't be more excited!! We are really looking forward to having a dog around the house again!

Just showed up

Lately, I have felt God moving in powerful waves through me, in me, and all around. I think I've really felt "free" and have allowed God to work in a powerful way to not only heal me medically, but to also dig a little deeper. It's just the simple everyday things. Being a true servant. Doing the right thing when it's easier to do the other. Being an encourager. Sharing my faith. Letting His Word become ALIVE in me. It's being content no matter what the circumstances are, or just allowing myself to be open with my hands ready to receive. I feel SO BLESSED and SO LOVED by God and I am so THANKFUL to Him DAILY for all the good, all the positiveness I have, and for letting me be a light among this world we live in...that's falling apart by the second.

I came across this song today I frequently used to listen to. It's very inspiring and makes me smile every time I hear it :) It's about someone "Just showing up for their Own Life"...meaning letting God live it for you. Knowing He's in Control...Always...and that His ways are always higher than our own. Are you fully letting God live your life for you or are you preoccupied with living it how you want...only letting God in when things don't go so well?

Just Showed Up For My Own Life
By: Sara Groves

Spending my time sleep walking
Moving my mouth but not saying a thing
Hoping the changes would take by working their way from the outside in
I was in love with an idea
Preoccupied with how a life should appear
Spending my time at the surface repairing the holes in the shiny veneer

There are so many ways to hide
There are so many ways not to feel
There are so many ways to deny what is real

And I just showed up for my own life
And I'm standing here taking it in and it sure looks bright

I'm going to live my life inspired
Look for the holy in the common place
Open the windows and feel all that's honest and real until I'm truly amazed
I'm going to feel all my emotions
I'm going to look you in the eyes
I'm going to listen and hear until it's finally clear and it changes our lives

Nolan finally walks by himself at 13 months

After much walking around the house pushing his little car, Nolan discovered this week that he could stand up from sitting down and dance! It's been so funny watching him shake his body and move his head to the sound of music!! Anyhow, Saturday afternoon after doing this several times in a row, he walked all by himself a few times. I guess he figured out the whole balancing thing! My parents were here this weekend so they just happened to luck out and see his first steps. I was able to take a quick video while my mom had music playing and was dancing with him so he would walk again. Check this out:

Nolan's 1st day of school

Today was Nolan's 1st day of school at the Early Learning Center at the Church of Brook Hills. He is in the Toddler A class with 7 other students on Wednesday and Friday from 9am-2:30pm. They have a long day filled with structured play, Spanish, art, music, prayer, playground time, lunch and afternoon nap. Nolan had a great report for his 1st day and his teachers said he was very happy and curious all day...playing well with the other kids and climbing on everything!! As soon as I dropped him off this morning he went straight for the tumble mat area in the room. Our child literally has no fear as he crawls to the top, stands up...and falls backwards! Whew..trying to give mama heart failure on day one! Overall, Eric and I are so proud of him and are so excited for all he is going to learn in the upcoming months.

Nolan Walks!

Nolan has never walked pushing any toy before. He has only cruised around furniture or walked with us holding his hands. This morning, however, he walked all by himself pushing his little car walker all over the house! I'm so proud!!!!

Back from the beach

We just got home from being in Perdido for a week with Eric's parents. We had such a great time and really caught up on some R&R!! Nolan still was not very fond of the sand...which we thought he would have liked it more this time time around. Oh, well. Maybe next year! He loves the pool and enjoyed learning how to blow bubbles in the water. He really drank more of the water than anything! Anyhow, we had a really nice family vacation and were glad to be at the beach :)

Doctor Update

Hey guys!
I know a lot of you have been praying for complete healing for the cavernoma on my brain stem. I had a follow-up MRI this morning and met with Dr. Fisher right after to review my results. The cavernoma is still there, but has not changed in size. So praise God for that!

I will see him back in February for my next scheduled MRI. He said if everything is the same at that check-up, then I would see him routinely once a year unless there are any changes I notice with vision, headaches, or numbness. Some of you may know that I did experience numbness & tingling on the left side of my face, in my left leg and foot for several months. However, on May 15th...all of my symptoms went away and have yet to return. So i know God is in the process of healing me, even though the report today was not what Eric and i expected.

If you all could just continue to keep me in your prayers, I'd be forever grateful to you. Eric and I also really need prayer in our decision to have more children with the risks at stake. This is something weighing very heavy on our hearts today with all the unknown effects pregnancy can have on a cavernoma. I'm looking forward to discussing everything with my OB this week and really spending some quiet time with God.

Love,
jenny

Happy Birthday Nolan!

Our baby boy turned 1 years old yesterday and we threw him a train themed birthday party at our home for close family and friends. Nolan had so much fun getting into his cake and assisting with opening his presents. We were all exhausted after the party was over and couldn't believe a whole year had passed since he entered into our world.

Cahaba River & Old bridge

We've always wanted to walk along this trail on the Cahaba River about a block from our church, so we stopped yesterday morning and walked down the river. We also went exploring later that day to find an old covered bridge close to where we live. When we finally got there, we found it to be temporarily closed for a new development/resort that's being built. We walked around the property since we couldn't drive through the caution gate and found this little old bridge that crossed over a pond. It was so hot and around 2pm in the afternoon...so we never walked far enough to see the covered family bridge...but we'll definitely make it back when the weather is cooler for Nolan.