Yay! A New Post!

Okay...so we've taken some time off from blogging, but we're back and with lots to share! First off, LJ is now walking, which is quite priceless! He is also clapping and can (somewhat) do the "Touchdown!" on prompt - it basically consists of raising his arms when we yell "Touchdown!" and then he grabs his hair. His birthday party is on Sunday (the 16th is the actual date) and we are doing a "Prince" theme. I'll try to upload an image of the invitation b/c I made them myself and I'm super excited about them. It's a small party at some friends house and they're letting us use their pool - so lets hope it doesn't rain!

Anyways, other news - Revolution's second campus, Holly Springs, launched on Sunday. Tim oversaw the buildout of the campus and with a huge team of volunteers they made it happen. I am extremely proud of Tim and the work he's done over the last three months. He has withstood extreme stress and pressure - all while dealing with a shoulder issue that's been keeping him in pain. (He received an epideral (sp) today)...I am attending the HS campus to help with the pre-k class. We had 225 (kids and adults) on the first Sunday which was really exciting! I'll post pics soon...or a link to pics...

Hope everyone is doing well!

Below are some fun videos from LJ eating his first "real dinner" at home and bath time:)

New Sights & Sounds!

As LJ continues to explore new sounds...yesterday the "K" sound and today "F" (those are going to be dangerous combinations!) he also has developed a new skill! He can now clap! We've been working with him a little at a time to try and get him to clap his hands. Up until now, he will wrap his hands around your hands, balls, toys and clap them together, but never his hands. Usually when I attempt to show him how to clap he holds his hands in a fist. Today he kept his hands open and allowed me to clap his hands together. I started clapping in front of him and suddenly he started to do it too! Very cool!

Yesterday I got to meet Bob Blue, the winemaker for Bonterra which grows organic grapes and makes organic wine. They use biodynamic practices which seems a little crazy (one of the things they do is bury - and I'm not making this up! - bury a cow's horn filled with cow manure (and some other things) at the fall equinox for six months. When they pull it out of the ground it is compost. They take the compost, store it in a jar with water and then spray it on the floor of the vineyard twice a year at night. This is seen as a bio-regulator. )

Anyways, you can't argue with good wine! They also use cover crop to help with pest control. It was really inspiring to hear all they are doing to make great wine while trying to work with the earth. It inspires me to be greener for sure! They wines are phenomenal so if you're at the store, grab a bottle and see what you think. 

Summertime Photos

Check out some of the summer pictures...

Olympic Fever!

So, I along with many other Americans watched the opening ceremonies last night. I have always loved the Olympics and hearing the stories that come out of it. Watching the Chinese flag come in and hearing the story of the little boy who was able to walk next Yao Ming. From what I understand (I thought this is what I heard the NBC commentators recall) Lin Hao is 9 years old and was in his school when the earthquake hit. He was buried under rubble, but was able to escape. Once he escaped he helped another student out and then went back to find more. When he was asked why he went back, he said, "It's my job. I'm the hall monitor." Totally broke my heart. How amazing children are, so selfless!

So anyways, I love the Olympics, always have - I'll be watching the gymnastics competitions and swimming for sure. I think I like the idea that we all come together at one moment to celebrate something other than selfish ambition - yes, we want our own countries to wine, but at the same time, we routing for the underdogs, cheering for the stories and passion these athletes compete with and all for the same goal - a medal.

Linkin Park

So tonight we got to see Linkin Park thanks to our friends Aaron and JD. Linkin Park were awesome. The concert reaffirmed why we are at revolution church (at leat to me). I loved watching the concert, but as I did I thought about many of the words to these songs and how everyone around me was singing along...songs about putting them out of their misery. They played my favorite songs - a few that could totally be worshipful. It made me see once again how everyone is searching for something and makes me thankful that my relationship with Christ began at such an early age. I'm thankful that throughout my life when things took a turn for the worse (dad's death, shelby's death a month later, gma kalvin, friends turning on me -the list could go on; like anyone else's list) through all these things I had the hope/knowledge that God was in control and that a better day would come. I pray that LJ will have an outlook like that and that he'll be able to turn to God during his traumatic experiences.

My favorite concert experience-seeing Chester's (of Linkin Park) son (age 4-5) with his huge headphones jamming to chris cornell. Even better was after Chester came out on stage to play 1 song with chris cornell, he went off stage and picked up the little boy and held him to his chest, almost like he was comforting him. It was so sweet.

Digging Linkin Park...does it make me want to change the spelling of LJ's Lincoln? No! And yes, someone did suggest that spelling when I was pregnant, I said the choice was Linkin or Jagger - pick one bc you can't have both...you see who won that argument:)

Lazy Hazy Summers Days

We've been a busy crew since returning from the beach! It was hard to get back to a normal routine as we headed back into juggling work, play, schedules, etc. LJ is breaking two new teeth (the upper two) and amazingly is only showing the signs via a runny nose. He's still happy as can been bouncing around and now is waving to everyone. He's begun to balance for a few seconds without holding on to anything around him. He's taken a few single steps on his own so we'll see how quickly he picks up walking - we're debating how fast we want to that process to start! 

On vacation Pat suggested I start a blog about wine, desserts and books...I'm happy to say I've found a book to begin the process:) I watched the movie Atonement last weekend and what a movie. At first I didn't want to see it because I thought the topic would be to heavy...but after watching Penelope (rated PG - Reese Witherspoon produced), a light-hearted fun movie, I thought I'd try something a little more serious. Well, I got what I paid for! I believe the movie won an Oscar and several Golden Globes. Once, I heard it was based on a book, I had to check it out...so get ready...a soon to be title blog will be appearing, hopefully by the end of this weekend as I'm midway through the book...It's been exciting to read and is totally inspiring me to pick up the pen and begin to put together a plotline of my own. 

More soon! 

Love, Courtney, Tim & LJ

Pool Time!

Over Memorial Day we decided to introduce LJ to water outside the bathtub. His first introduction to the pool was at our friends' Jeff and Tracy's pool (well their parents' pool)...Anyways, he loved it and he hated it:) We think a lack of nap and overstimulation with all things new might have played into the "hating it" part. We had a great time and then later that night we went to the Berger's to hang with the family and of course, their fabulous hot tub. It was the first time I was able to sit in the hot tub for an extended period of time as last summer I was pregnant with LJ...instead of the hot tub I floated around the pool in an inner tube and read a book. I don't think I will ever live that down! Thankfully there aren't too many pictures floating around:) Below are pics of LJ in the pool, a bucket, and hanging with Tim at the office...

All Hails Breaking Loose! LIVE from Tornado Valley!

Okay, so we're really on the edge of Tornado Valley (at least from what I remember) but lately we've been getting storm after storm at our little house! We have a ranch and back before LJ we used to huddle in our closet (okay I used to huddle in the walk-in closet) Tim, being the man he is, would hang by the windows and watch the news station...but alas...now that we have LJ I realize my walk-in closet haven is not really the best place to be since one side of it hits an exterior. So now we go to the very small section of what you can call our "hallway". Again, I grab pillows and whatever and Tim hangs by the windows tempting fate and watching the news...although now that we are within sight of the TV he'll sit with me sometimes:)

So back to today...I get home, take a 15 minute nap, greet Tim when he gets home...and then look outside. It's thundering and although the front of the house looks like a gorgeous summer day, the back looks fierce. Thunder starts and lightening so of course we start up the grill (yeah, located at the back of the house) and Tim begins to grill in the lightening while I hang with LJ, grab some stuff for our "safe haven hallway" and start and stop the stove to grill onions (as the news would say the storm would hit the house by 6:59 I'd shut off the stove...it didn't hit until 6:20 (don't worry, they recalculated) so I started it back up again)...And then all hail broke loose! Check out my pics...I thought my camera was in the car so this is probably about 30-45 minutes after the storm hit...Lots and lots of hail!

Crawling:)

LJ's doing the army crawl! I'll try to video it and post it sometime soon. He heads back to the daycare on Monday. The ladies are going to love it and LJ too (although he'll miss Lyn!). 

once in a lifetime

Because of my work I've been able to experience many things I never thought I would be abe to...meet Francis Ford Coppola, numerous winemakers, go to restaurant openings, and now see the Eagles...but not just see them, see them with some VIP treatment. The Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre just opened by mom and Kevin's. We were able to get some of products placed and a byproduct or perk was to also to get tickets to this show. It is the opening four shows and every night has been sold out. We got two tickets that were phenomenal. Close to the front and dead center is a great description.Sound is great, seats are comfy and the crowd is fun!

Happy Mother's Day!

LJ, with a little help from Tim, made this a fabulous Mother's Day! When I woke up this morning I had flowers (tulips) on the table with a card. After church I headed home to give LJ his treatments while Tim finished up at church. Once he arrived back home LJ surprised me (my camera broke or I'd have a picture of LJ smiling and holding a wrapped box) with a pearl necklace and matching bracelet. I was totally shocked:) Needless to say, the day has been fabulous:) 

Happy Mother's Day!

Saturday indoors...waiting for the rain to come!

LJ and his favorite toy! 

We spent today inside...well LJ did! Tim and I took turns getting errands run and meeting with friends while LJ worked on getting better and playing. He's pretty much back full speed. He still coughs a bit, but not as bad as before and there's still some wheezing, but I'm hoping by the 9 month appointment that the wheezing will be gone. The schedule sucks (poor linc is chained to a nebulizer every 4 hours) but it'll be worth it if we can eradicate this!! 

I hung out with my friend Shari today and her daughter Kelsey. Shari's due with a brother or sister for Kelsey in a week or two. I can't wait to find out what they have! Well...that's it for now:)

Getting Better!

I'm happy to report that LJ is doing much better! The fever is gone (and has been for almost two days now) and the cruddy eyes and runny nose are mostly gone too! Monday Lyndsey will begin watching him for the remainder of the summer. Tim and I are very excited about this because we are hoping it will help LJ build up his immune system so he's good and strong for the daycare in the fall. For now, the above pictures (from before he was sick).

Poor LJ!

As we speak my poor husband is trying to "nebulize" my even poorer son:( As I said in the last post, I arrived home to a sick LJ. We went to the doctor today and 3 hours later and a ton of prescriptions later we headed home. He is on the nebulizer now every 2 hours and that is no fun for me or LJ! Tonight, if his breathing is the same as it was last night then we have to head to Scottish Rite. The only good thing about that is Scottish Rite is part of the Children's Healthcare Network and they are the best place in the SE to take sick kids.  So...hopefully tonight will be peaceful, but we're doing the treatments until 11:30 tonight so we've got a ways to go. 

In other areas...I've added some more graduation pics to the roadtrip blogs so check them out. 

Back Home

I arrived home last night around midnight to a sick little boy. LJ was sleeping, but it didn't sound good. He's been fighting off a fever all day and although he's been smiling and playing, he's not the chipper, flirty boy of usual. So tomorrow I will take another sick day and cart LJ to the doc. If the fever hits 104 tonight then we'll head to Children's, but it should hold off. 

A funny story...Lyndsey subbed in the baby room at church a couple of weeks ago. She walked in and said, "Hey Lincoln!" and another nursery worked chastised her by saying, "His name is LJ!" Lyndsey looked at her and said, "Well his birth certificate says Lincoln and I'm his Aunt!" (okay it was probably said in a less snotty way than that comes across). The nursery worker replied, "Well it says LJ on his nametag." We definately have some people watching out for LJ:) I will post more pics tomorrow night as today has been pretty draining so I haven't dug my camera out just yet. The  above picture was taken and emailed to Tim.

on the road again...

Well Courtney and Lyndsey are now off to georgia. We left around 5:30 and are expected to reach home around 11:30. Tyler is ahead of us because our lovely but yet ever so trustworthy GPS lead us to a path of nothing. Well not nothing just nakibg us an hour out of our way but hey we are two sisters who can find humor in anything :}. But we really do want our beds!

On highway 85,
Lynds

alex has graduated!

Alex walked across the stage to a rousing cheer. We are super proud and yelled super loud! 

By the way, courtney will not be making that wedding!

courtney is crazy

I'm bored.I thought it wiuld be an awesome idea to come... But then I remebered how rediculously BORING! Not to mention the wind keeps knockibg the wires around causing the microphone to keep cuttibg out. I think even grandpa is asleep oh wait we're clapping and grandpa clapped so he is awake.Right about now I feel like jumping in that lovely lake I am starring at. Call the stinkin names already!!!
Lynds

girls gone wild at the sapc graduation!

Okay not really, but there is a 6 or 7 year old trying to take off her clothes because she is hot.

highlights from the grass

This graduation is fabulous!

*during the innvocation (prayer) we had a gentleman calling out (loudly as I heard him from across the lawn)"hallelujah, amen, praise you Lord!" I love God but I have to admit it was hard not to laugh as amidst the quiet calm of the prayer this man starts yelling his praises.Huge props to the Rev. Dr.Neal Carter, pastor of the Laurenburg Presby. Church, who prayed as if not hearing the man as I totally would've been distracted.

*President of the college gave a humorous welcome including, "welcome siblings who probably came in disbelief at their brother or sister graduating.*Samuel Hemingway a senior class speaker sang an accapella song as the intro to his speach and got the crowd calling and the man from the invocation calling amen's again. It was an awesome speach dedicated to his mom who passed away and thanked the parents. He talked about investing in knee pads for the prayer time to get through classes and drama.he gave everyone plenty of laughs as he reminsced of the previous four years...the good and bad - the exciting times and the tragedies they came through together as a community. Loved it!

it hads begun

The graduates are being led from accross the lake by the haunting sounds of bagpipes. And here they come to be seated.the bagpipers are in traditional bagpipingware.the bagpipers twirl their baton drumsticks.the robes are blue and with gold tassles for those with honors.alex just walked by with the inspiring quote "put it on my tab" shouting from the top of his cap.

Live from the grass

Up early and out the door. Super quick breakfast and 11 miles later we are sitting in blue plastic chairs and listening to the inspiring bagpipes which will lead our accomplished graduate to the ceremony. It is a crisp beautiful day by the waterfront (there is a lake to our right) in laurenburg, NC, home to St. Andrews Presbyterian College.more news to come, more stories to be shared LIVE from the blue plastic chairs in the grass here at the SAPC graduation 08.

good night

We have settled into our room for the night. Lyndsey kicked my butt at nerts I am sad to say. Its early rising so good night from SC!

high on coffee!

We made it and beat tyler by 19 miles! We are proid of that bc tyler thought we were going to be lost bc his gps took him to exit 141 and ours went to 131. So now we are chilling in the parents room. Just found out that grandpa is here, but in bed. Probably where we should be too.

We were going to crash alex's party,but now that we're here, I think we're going to be lazy.jeremy's here and won an award feom the navy. I'll try to post a pic later.

Road trip ipod
Theme song:apple bottom jeans by flo rida...don't ask, just sing! "Boots with the fur, with the fur"

Close seconds:
*life is a highway
*see you again

smells like a cow pooped on our couch!

Lynds again....
Well it is curretly 10:09 and we have found out the hard way that south carolina smells like cow. We are about 47 miles from our destination~ the one and only best western! LJ is staying with tim's parents this weekend and I'm sure he is having fun being spoiled by granny and paw paw. We have just found out that we have to leave the hotel room by SEVEN THIRTY!!! I really don't think that ny alarn has a seven thirty, I'm not old like Courtney here!

From the open road,
Lynds :}

stopping for gas

Well it is 6:50 and we need to get some gas. After we ate we just had to do a quick run over to stapples to get a tape plug thingy for the lynds' ipod because we needed some jams. We met a lovely old lady who was extremely enthusiastic about learning about our trip. So we nade new friends! Now at the gas station tyler pointed out a huge truck with some steriod lookin guy. As he was driving off a maltese,the girliest dog alive all white abd fluffy, popped his head up. Needless to say his rep was ruined!!!

Can't wait to get on the road again,

This is Lynds blogging.

road trip 08

So we are off! We are lyndsey, tyler and the best one: courtney! Courtney is writing so she is the better one for now:) so lyndsey got picked up from the airport and courtney finished work and they headed out. A stop at a non-existent starbucks was a bit of a buzz kill. We hooked up with tyler and now are at steaknshake feasting on the parents dime:) oh yeah, where are we headed?ALEX'S GRADUATION! Woo Hoo!

LJ's Teething!

LJ has two beautiful bottom teeth. Unfortunately with teething can come fevers and he has one now! 102.4 at last temperature-taking...Hopefully it will clear up soon. Typical LJ though, you can barely tell that he's not feeling good. He was bouncing in his bouncy seat, rolling on the floor - typical baby:)

Up. Up. Up We Go!

So I've got two more pics of LJ to post. Tim was placing LJ ever-so-carefully on his shoulders and LJ felt that he should eat Tim's hair as a return favor:) Enjoy! 

LJ:  Yea! I've made it!

LJ: Yum, this is good stuff!