Maternity Pics - July 2014

We did maternity family pics earlier this month (I was 31 weeks).  It took a lot of patience and a little bribery to get a 3 year old to cooperate.  But it was fun and turned out fabulous!

 

My absolute FAVORITE picture!! 

Fabulous Fall Family Fun

Pictures from a few weeks ago.

(Cause we try to squeeze as much in as we can in the month of October!)

We went to our second pumpkin patch of the season. I think I enjoyed the cow ride more than Matthew!  

Fall Foliage!

I took Abbey and Matthew to the park by our house so we could play in the leaves. It was a beautiful day to enjoy all the beauty around. 

Then we went to Bear's Den Trail center and took a little hike to an overlook where the view was just amazing.  Ah-maz-ing!

Matthew found a little tree stump just his size.

Matthew - the tree worshipper?

 

See the view behind us?
Ah-maz-ing!

I'm so glad we were able to enjoy all this beauty because a few days later, Hurricane Sandy rolled in.  Now there's probably not a single leaf on those trees. 

The days are getting chillier and some days you can feel old man Winter looming in the air. As we get ready for Thanksgiving, it makes us reflect on what w are grateful for in our lives.  First and foremost, I am grateful for my family and my faith. 

I'm grateful for fabulous fall family fun!

Breakfast in Bed

Matthew and I made breakfast in bed for Steve for Father's Day. And by 'made' I mean we assembled it all on the plate. It's hard to really cook anything from scratch with a 16 month old who wants to be held all the time. So, Matthew helped by putting the waffles in the toaster and pushing the button!

Steve was very surprised and appreciative. He was feeling a little under the weather, but he definitely enjoyed his breakfast (usually because we don't always have time to for breakfast on Sundays because we have church so early!) 

As a side note, chocolate donuts in bed are very messy with a toddler!

But worth it!

(Yes, that is a box fan next to our bed.  Steve HAS to sleep with the fan on every night, regardless of the temperature.  And we even have a ceiling fan, but that's not good enough for him.  The fan has to be directly on hm.  It's an ongoing battle we have every night.  Sorry, I digressed...)

My handsome boys before church!

Gosh - they really are a cute duo!

After church we took naps (isn't that what Sunday are for??!!).

I let Steve sleep a little bit longer since it was his special day and all. Then we had his parents over for dinner and I made stuffed shells. It was my first time making it and it was so easy and yummy! And for dessert, it was Steve's favorite, Carvel icecream cake.

Did I tell you I have the BEST inlaws?!  Well, I do!

I'm grateful for a father in law (and mother in law of course) who have instilled such great values and love in their son.  It is through their example that he has honored his role as a great father and husband.  

Matthew loves his daddy SO much!  You can tell it in his excitement when he see's daddy.

I am so blessed to have such an awesome husband and son.  My heart just burst with joy when I am around them.   I adore them to pieces. 



An Honor and a Privilege...

....to be called mama by this sweet baby boy. He fills my days with love and joy and pure happiness. 

I received a package on Saturday with these yummies inside. Chocolate coverred strawberries by Shari's Berries!  Oh so delish.  But the card inside was even sweeter! 

This time last year, Matthew was only 3 months.  And now he's 15 months!

I have been his mama for 15 months now.  Just when I think that my love for him can't grow much more, my heart melts at every laugh and giggle sound he makes.

I think motherhood is the hardest, yet most rewarding callings in the world.

Happy mother's day to all the mama's, future mama's and mama figures out there.

Special thanks to my own mother and the best mother in-law anyone could ever ask for!

Step By Step

Look who's walking!!

Well, it's more like taking a few steps, but you know what I mean.

Another milestone.

My little baby toddler.

Next thing I know, he'll be running! 

And I just want to scream, No! Slow Down! Don't grow up too fast.

Last Friday night we went over to Steve's parents to celebrate his dad's birthday.  My MIL makes the best Mound's Cake.  Oh so yummy! (I love anything with coconut in it).  I have been so blessed with such awesome in-laws.  Matthew loves his bà nội and ông nội (that's paternal grandma and grandpa in Vietnamese. We're trying to teach him to say those words.)

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Three Whitcomb generations: Steve (33), Matthew (1), Matt (63)

Cheap Family Dinner

I told Steve he was in charge of dinner.  Guess where we ended up?

Costc.co!

It's a great bargain for dinner. The Cost.co where we live is hardly ever busy (compared to the one where we use to live which was chaotic every day of the week!).

Notice he's not looking at the camera in the picture above??  He was smiling at the ladies next to us.  And every time I tried to get a picture, he would do everything but look into the camera!

Finally, he's looking at me (the camera phone). Look at those big eyes!

mmm....lemonade!

So that was our fun family night at Cost.co!  It's our go to place for quick, cheap dinner.

The Other Whitcombs

 

 

 

We spent last week hosting Steve's older brother and his family at our home.  It was certainly a full house, but it was SO much fun to have them here with us. We all had a great time hanging out and visiting with everyone (at his parents house in West VA).  I enjoyed taking pictures with my new lens! What better models than family?

I think Matthew was happy when everyone was gone so he could have his peace and quiet and get back to his normal schedule.  Steve and I would love to take a roadtrip to St. Louis and visit his brother, but I don't think Matthew's ready for a 15 hour car ride! 

Spending time with family was a fabulous way to end the year!

 

Slowly Walking into The New Year

  

 

Matthew got a walker for Christmas.  He is slowly getting the hang of it. 

Pretty soon he will be running! Where does the time go?!

I've enjoyed reading everyone's year end reviews and recaps.  It's fun to see all the blessings everyone's received the past year.  I hope there will be even more blessings in store this year for ya'll.

The biggest blessing for us this past year has been our sweet baby boy!  He is the best thing that has happened to us, yet.  He was THE highlight of our year.  I couldn't ask for anything else in life.

I'm not one for setting new year's resolutions (I always feel like a failure at the end of the year!).  I'm just going to strive to be a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, aunt and most importantly, a better servant in the Lord's hands.

(And if I lose weight along the way, that will be an added bonus!)



Our first Christmas as a Family

Matthew's first Christmas was special because we got to spend it together as a family. We did not spoil him with tons of gifts. We just bought him a few small things.

He was NOT interested in opening gifts at all!

 In my head, I was going to go all out and make it super grand by stuffing his stocking, making lots of treats, doing tons of crafts (from pinterest of course) and starting all sorts of tradition.

But, it was ALL in my head because I did not have time to do ANY of it.

Any you know what?  It was still a perfect Christmas with our little family.

 

Sneak Peak: Family Photoshoot

We took family pictures on Saturday.  Matthew was good at first, then he was over it real quick!

We may do a re-shoot since I feel like we didn't capture THE family shot (that's Christmas card worthy).

My photographer was awesome!!

My little guy is 9 months today!! 

Life is a little busy right now so I will have do his 9 month post later this week. 

Apple Picking

....One of my favorite fall activities.

Enough said.