Hello Everyone!

I guess you could say, "no free time" is an understatement around this busy little home! We are finally moved in... for the most part. We still have a few things left to get but we are so exhausted we have just quit. It's amazing how much stuff you can pack into such a small space! I don't know where all of it keeps coming from!!
I have so much to catch-up on I don't really know where to start. So I will try to break it up event-by-event.
#1... We had a glorious Easter! It is my favorite holiday of all. Not only because the meaning of Easter gives all Christians such a reason to be full of hope, but the time of year is my favorite! We started out with church Easter morning and then to our yearly lunch and egg hunt at Grandmother Dean's. John Luke enjoyed the egg hunt much more this year. He was so proud of all his eggs! He even found the prize egg!







2... All of the Cotton side of the family tries to gather ever-so-often for a cookout. This last time, we had delicious steaks and all the yummy stuff to go with them! Thanks to Uncle Sandy and Aunt Lisa for the wonderful steaks and to Mama for all the rest of the delicious sides! (And to Daddy for grilling them all!) I had my share and several other people's!!
We tried to focus on getting pictures with PawPaw and Granny. I think we ran out of daylight before we could get each group together, but they turned out fine.




All of the grandchildren and the two great-grandchildren.

Uncle Sandy with his new bundle of joy!

Granny and PawPaw getting love!

Mamy had made his day...taking him for a ride!

So she gets lots of love too!!!

The proud new daddy~

#3... John Luke turned 2 years old Monday! It's so hard for me to believe! He is an absolute JOY to me and his daddy! I don't know what we ever did before he came along!!! He keeps us VERY busy and VERY entertained! I'm so very thankful for this little stinker!
We got up Monday not thinking we were going to be doing anything special for the day, just me and him hanging out as usual but we got a pleasant surprise! Mrs. Ashley, Sawyer, and Eli and Mrs.Kristen, Maggie Ruth, and Jack came to play! The kids had a blast in John Luke's new sandbox his daddy built and in the sprinkler and riding the Gator while us Mamas had a good time visiting! Thanks guys for coming and please come again soon!


#3 continued... This was first thing Monday morning. I had to get some pictures of the birthday boy in his cute little birthday shirt (Thanks Mrs. Ashley for the shirt!) He has greatly improved with his picture-taking. He has a very big "cheese" but at least he's looking in the right direction!!



#4... Later that night after John's softball game we had a small birthday cake and some icecream. Even though it wasn't his official party, we thought since it was the official day, we needed to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles. He was loving every minute of it! After he blew out the candles, he stuck his face in the cake and got himself some icing (several times!) I got some videos of it, but it takes so long to download, I'll add those later. We had a great day with our sweet, Big boy!




It was sooooo funny!

So that gets me a little caught-up~ (I up-dated, Brad, just for you!!) He and the rest of the crew have been wondering when I was ever going to update my blog!!~

We are busy as ever, but still "Counting Our Blessings" because we have LOTS to be thankful for!!! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

No Free Time!!!

As for this family, we absolutely cannot seem to find enough hours in the day! I'm sure everyone feels that way! Life is just too darn busy! I guess if it wasn't we would be wishin' it was!
Well, where do I start? We have officially bought a house! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! We are going to have enough space to run around and chase the wild indian that lives with us!! We are in the process of painting and it is NOT fun!!!!! Why does anyone like to paint? I have not found anything fun about it, except maybe the finished product. Which I really can't say "we" are painting because I'm not really being of much help since I'm not supposed to be around the fumes, but it is sooo hard to stay away! I have to give a HUGE Thank You to my husband, mama, sisters, and Brad for all the help in this area!! I don't know what I would do without my family! I am so blessed!!! And now daddy is back home from Kentucky so I'm sure he will be doing his share too! Also thanks to those who have kept John Luke for me! Thanks Y'all!!!!!!!!! We hope to be starting to move in by next weekend...we shall see. That is if we're not all floating away by then!
John Luke is growing like a weed!!! He has started talking a lot more just in the last few weeks. I'm not sure of some of the words, but he's trying! When I pick him up, it feels like he has gained 10 lbs. and grown 10 inches, or maybe it's because I've grown that much! {Except my 10 inches is around not up!!!} He is becoming funnier and funnier with everyday! He makes me laugh a lot and he is very exhausting to keep up with! But I sure do love him!
John is doing well. We are extremely blessed! He has had some stomach pains that scared us, but tests show nothing serious! It's just going to be a way of life for us and we have to learn how to deal with it. The fear of the word "cancer" is like a very big, heavy, black cloud that looms over your head day and night! Thankfully we have a God that is BIGGER than that fear and he is in control no matter what may come!!!! Please pray that John will be able to relax and have peace in knowing that God IS in control and fear is not part of HIS plan!!! I know I've never been in his shoes, and it's got to be very, very hard not to fear the possibilites daily!
As I said earlier, I am growing more and more. This pregnancy has not been 1/2 as bad as it was with John Luke, so I am soooooo thankful! I am 26 weeks and to tell you the truth a lot of days I have to get on here to look at my ticker or count on the calendar to know how far along I am! That is wonderful to me because with John Luke I counted the seconds!!!!!! Maybe it's just that I don't have the time to think about it. The baby is moving a lot, and kicking harder with everyday. John Luke is still not aware that his world is about to be rocked big time! He just knows where the baby is and he loves to kiss it. {He kisses my belly} But that's about all he knows...boy is he in for a surprise! I think he will actually be good. He just wants so badly to love and kiss on the babies, and he doesn't know that he's so rough!!! I will have to keep a CLOSE eye on Big Brother!!
We have decided on a name. She will be Allie Elizabeth. John has decided we should call her Allie Beth, so Allie Beth it is. We are excited to meet this new little family addition!
I can't believe this month I will be celebrating my 3rd anniversary with my precious husband! Time flys! And we will be celebrating a very big boy's 2nd birthday!! It seems like yesterday I was in the hospital holding him!
I have not even touched my camera in weeks, so I don't have any real exciting pictures. I hope to remember to take some of the house and I'll post them. If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by and visit! My "helpers" love to have a reason to take a break!!!!

This was one morning here lately that John and John Luke cooked breakfast-in-bed for me! John let me sleep in {How lovely!!!} and he and John Luke cooked breakfast. John Luke came bursting through the bedroom door {there's not a quite, gentle bone in this child's body} with my plate saying "Mama, Mama!" He was carrying my plate with fork and all!


Little Professor Colvin...

I can't get over how old he looks here!

Handsome Hubby...I'm not a fan of the beard but after his play tomorrow night, he's shaving!!