Fun weekend

Well, Brother has football games every Friday night, so I have the girls! We have ventured out to a couple of games and the girls were AWESOME!!! I can't wait for them to get a bit older. Nonie LOVES to cheer with the cheerleaders and dance to band! She will also yell "big kick" when the football teams kick off.

But, when we don't go to the games my friend Sandra and Jill have come over to keep us company. They came over last night. I made ranch, bacon chicken and brownies! They were both sans kids, which meant Nonie and Wylie got plenty of attention. They were totally ok with this!!

Mrs. Jill reading Nonie a book (a book Mrs. Sandra already read to her 5 times, haha).

Wylie bumped her cheek on the hinge of the door. Ugh, I hate when my girls get hurt. She is fine, just has a bruise! Bummer!!

Mrs. Sandra played with the See and Say with Nonie!

After I recovered from the 5K and Nonie had her nap, we headed to the library. It was Nonie's idea, completely. I agreed that it was a great idea and she deserved a little mommy time. So, Wylie stayed with Daddy and Mommy and Nonie went and checked out 3 new signing time videos!! She was pumped.

This is her playing on the computer there.

A Elmo game, of course!

Taking a picture for Daddy while he was at the game so he would know we all missed him!

Silly Sisters!!

Ok, done.

Race for the Cure

I figured something out about myself a long time ago: if I am going to run, I need a goal. So, when a couple of weeks ago I successfully ran 2 miles (post babies) I knew a 5k was not out of reach!

I also knew that Race for the Cure was coming up and a big group from my church was going to participate in honor of our precious friend Darlene! So, I took the plunge and signed up. Now, I did "train" some...I ran pushing the girls a mile a couple of different times and I ran with my girls at school... sorta. ;-) But, I was still committed.

My goal was to push both girls and run the whole thing. However, it was 32 this morning. Um, freezing. I was miserable...I can't imagine how they would have felt. So, they had a morning with Daddy!! He was definitely ok with it!

Besides, my somewhat recent obsession with orphan care, I have never really been all about any one cause before. However, I think it is because of the toll it would take on me. I don't think I thought I could handle it. You see, my grandma Dorothy had breast cancer, my grandma Wenonah (who Nonie is named after) also had it, along with my great-grandmother, Ma Ruby, and my cousin Kathy Poston. And now Darlene...

If I am brutally honest, I was involved very little in their fight and recovery. It hurt too much. It scared me too much. Darlene has been blogging about her struggles and journey through this and I have gotten to see her at church almost weekly. It is not pretty folks, however, she is relying on God and worshiping and praising Him through it. I pray I am that strong, that in the face of something so life changing, I would not turn my back on the One that can save me from it all. I am nothing but ashamed that I was not there for my family members who have fought and won this battle. I am so proud of how they fought. They shielded me from their pain. They didn't complain. They didn't feel sorry for themselves. They were so strong and courageous!

So, today as I ran my lungs burned and my legs were so heavy. I was freezing all morning and if you know me, you know I HATE to be cold (and it always shocks me that I am). Nothing I went through today even compares to what these women have been through. You can't touch mouth sores, radiation burns, losing your hair, bone pain, surgery, chemo....

I pray my friend felt supported. I pray my family forgives me for not being there for them. I pray my girls know how important it is to stand for a cause. I pray we do find a cure, so my babies will never have to face this awful disease.

This morning Sandra and family picked me up at 6:30. Somehow, we did not get a picture together, but her and her precious daughter, Jenna are below! I was so proud of Sandra and Jenna, they ran as much as they could!!! Go Taylors!!

This is most of our group. This was at 7:30 at our team tent. We took an "official" team pic later on with everyone! I think we were close to 60!

I shot before we started the race. Plenty of pink. Sidenote: Breasts were definitely glorified today! Ha-larious!

My running buddies Amy and Emily!!

My 2 Year Old

Noniebear is 2!!! I can believe it, but 2 sounds so old. So big. She has more words than I can count. She is still obsessed with signing time and thus has countless signs. Including, some of the letters! She loves to sing the abc song. Her favorite toys right now are her baby doll and all her things, ie stroller, high chair, pack-n-play, and bottles and such. She will play for hours! She also loves playing with our neighbor, Davis! She asks to play with him as soon as we get home from school. She is a big help around the house. She will help put up dishes, groceries, clothes, and toys. She also loves to go to the grocery. Anytime I run into someone and have to say sorry or excuse me, she repeats me! Sooo, funny. I laugh every time. She is going to be so smart! She has shown interest in potty training, but just hasn't figured it out completely. I could go on and on! Can't wait to see the little lady that she becomes!

"May The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace," my sweet, sweet Nonie!

On her way home from school, wearing her crown!

Enjoyed her cake much more this year!

"Whatch get sister?? Can I have it?" -Wylie

Nonie and her teacher, Ms. Dana. Wearing the crown Ms. Dana made her! They made her feel so special at school that day!!

She's movin' up...

I want the world to know...

Were you singing??

Wylie is being transitioned to the next room up. She is going from the Major Leaguers to the Hoopsters. Her school is The Net Preschool, which is run by Cornerstone Church! We love it and if you couldn't tell they are sports themed! :-). Here are some pics from her first day as a hoopster!

One major bonus is she gets outside time and she gets it with her big sister Nonie!!!!

My Big Girls!!

And that is not a fat joke....

Both of our girls for their 1st birthdays got a chair from Pottery Barn with their name monogrammed on it! They love them! They are perfect for reading books, watching tv, or just chilling and they are sooo cute!! I can't believe my baby is sitting in a chair all by herself and drinking her milk in a sippy cup!! I think I need another ;-)

My Baby...The 1 Year Old

This year has flown by!!! I could not be prouder of my Wyliebear!! She is the sweetest and cuddliest baby and will smile and giggle on command! She is almost walking. Cruising on everything and can get everywhere. She totally feeds herself all table food. Is drinking milk out of a sippy cup. Wylie thinks Nonie is hilarious and likes to play with her. Her favorite toy is the shape sorter with the rings a close second. She can say mama, dada, ball, nana, and bye bye. Can't wait to see how God shapes and molds His little one!!

Orphan Sunday: November 6th!!!

It is hard for me to put into words, especially with out tearing up, what God is doing in my heart and life when it come to orphans. We long so much one day to adopt...from where and how many, we do not know, but we know we will. I am obsessed with adoption blogs. I love reading personal accounts of adoptions.

One outlet I have found lately is Sweet Sleep! Sweet Sleep provides beds, bedding, mosquito nets, and bibles to orphans in Uganda, Haiti, Moldova, and South Africa. We have recently committed to being a Bedhead! We support Sweet Sleep financially, monthly! Head on over to their website to find out how you can support! Pray about how your church, school, or you personally could help these chidren sleep sweetly! www.sweetsleep.org

So, this is not my idea, but I LOVE this idea....so, I thought I should pass it along. A friend of mine has put forth the challenge to wear adoption t-shirts to church on Orphan Sunday, which is November 6th! What a great way to support families who are adopting! Below are some links to different friends of mine who are selling shirts to raise funds for their adoptions! Please feel free to hit them up for one of their shirts! I personally am stoked about this challenge!!!

First is my friend Sandra, who is adopting Kylie from China!

www.taylor-family-blog.blogspot.com

Next, are my friends Natalie and JT, who are adopting their second child from Ethiopia!

www.5millionminus1.blogspot.com

Third, are my friend Jenny and Stuart, who are adopting two children from the Republic of Congo!!!

www.borderspatrol.blogspot.com

And of course, you can purchase t-shirts on Sweet Sleep's website, too! All the proceeds go to buying beds for orphans!

If I have missed anyone, I will add their info later! Please feel free to comment others who are selling shirts as well!

Testing my blogger app

This is how I found Nonie a couple of mornings ago! As you can tell she was still sleepy!!