The books come to life....

We took Alder out to the Hall's house a few weeks ago to show Alder all of their animals. They have turkeys, chickens, baby chicks, horses, a donkey, cows, dogs, cats, and on and on. Alder looked with amazement as he watched all of these animals and wanted to touch them. You could tell his brain was just firing off the connection between all the stories we read with these animals in them and seeing them for the first time in real life. He was fearless in "walking" (he is not walking yet by himself, he just likes to hold your finger and walk....ugghhh! I cannot believe I am almost 8 months pregnant and I am still carrying Alder) up to all the animals and wanted to feed them whatever he could find off the ground. The donkey was especially fun as he was so sweet and curious. It was a fun Saturday afternoon outing.

Cheerio Party

Alder is becoming such a little boy. He loves dirt and rocks. He loves digging and eating dead bugs and sticks. He also rather enjoys getting huge fist fulls of "snacks" and shoving it all into his mouth. Yesterday morning I let him sit on the floor and have a ball sticking his hand into the Cheerio box and eating to his hearts content while I cleaned up after breakfast. Today he turned 14 months. This is such a fun age.

Fun Close Ups: Alder 13 Months

A Snowy Sunday

Yesterday morning we woke up to a beautiful snowy Sunday. It snowed hard for most of the morning. It did not stick since it had been 70 degrees the day before. We laugh at this crazy Alabama weather. Hours later at about noon the sun came out and it looked as if a single snowflake had never fallen. It was a magical morning.

Curly Hair

Dinner with Wingfield Boy Cousins

Jared and all of his brothers have all had boys. We are extremely curious to know what this one will be. If we have another boy that will make 7 Wingfield boy cousins. Can you imagine what it will be like in 5 years when they all get together?

The Chattanooga Aquarium

Last week we were in Chattanooga while Daddy was away on business. On Tuesday, Yaya took us to the aquarium. Alder loved seeing all the animals. Alder loved the whole experience and we cannot wait to go back and see the saltwater part on our next visit to Chattanooga.

Visit with Uncle Mikey

In late January, Jared's dearest friend Michael Love came down to visit us. We had a blast. I think I laughed the whole weekend. The two of them are hilarious together. I just sit and laugh listening to them. Michael is an amazing guy. He just recently moved back from living out west since graduating from high school and we are thrilled that he now lives so close. It was great to have Alder get to know him. Alder loved Uncle Mikey.

Eating yogurt by myself...sort of

Swinging with Dada

Its Just Wonderful...

being Alder's mom. He is a beautiful boy. I just adore being his mother. Its a great day here in Alabama with the bright sun and fresh new green leaves budding on all the trees. Happy Wednesday!

Nappin' Funnies

Alder recently is going through a spell of napping well and consistantly. Dare I say this out loud. Now that I have posted this, I bet tomorrow that will all change. It has been so good for him (as I knew he has always needed more daytime sleep than he would "give" himself). He must be growing. When we went for his 12 month check up he was 90 percentile for height and 25 percentile for weight. Alder is long and lean, seems to have a bottomless pit, and I swear grows 1/2 inch everyday. I caught him having just fallen asleep like this on Monday. He had his head up on the bumper pad causing his neck and upper back to be in an awkward arch and his arm/hand were stuck through the crib. I had to get the camera.

Happy Birthday Alderman Rhys

Alder turned one on the 17th of this month. We celebrated with friends and family with a brunch to rejoice over this boy's first year of life and his baptism on that Sunday. I will add more later, but the change that occurs from newborn to toddler is astonishing.

Happy Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Theodore Hume Wingfield

Sweet little T.H. was born on Dec. 29th to Jackson and Lesley which makes this their 3rd boy, 9th Wingfield cousin, and 7th boy cousin. He is beautiful and sweet. I only got to see him briefly before we left to come back to Demopolis, but I hear great things about him. He sleeps a lot and is very loved by his older brothers. We went to the hospital to visit and all 9 of Yaya's grandchildren were photographed together. Number 10 is due in mid-April and #11 (ours) is due late May. This means there will be 11 grandchildren/1st cousins under the age of 7 or 10 under the age of 5. Pretty amazing isn't it. They are all healthy and wonderful children. God is so good.

Christmas Morning

So once again we barely got our camera out for any of the Christmas Festivities. Now part of that is due to the fact that Jared and I came down with a stomach thing on Christmas morning and it lasted a good two days. We missed all Wingfield fun on Christmas and barely saw my family as Jared and I were both laid up in bed. Jared got it far far worse than I. Bless his heart. However, Alder loved the day, the fun, the paper and bows, and he is just such a joy. I have fallen in love with him in a new way. I cannot explain it. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact I have stopped nursing and I am starting to see that he is so incredibly bonded to me regardless if he is nursing or not. Does this make sense? He needs and wants me because I am his mother. Its a wonderful feeling.

The Love Affair

Alder just loves Ally B and I know she loves him for all the food he drops, and "petting" he gives her, and the playing in the yard together. However, I am not so sure she was thrilled that he was invading her sacred crate. Of course she was gracious and patient to the paci-sucking intruder and licked his face and hands.
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I dare you..

So I often do not single people out on this thing (or write anything real deep) but its worth sharing this quote I found. It speaks volumes to me right now as I try to "recover" from a rather horribly wonderful last year.
I had the great privilege of getting to know this girl named Tyler in college. She is creative, mysterious, fun, passionate, quietly powerful, and overwhelmed by the greatness of our Lord. It was only recently that I realized she had a blog. We've grown apart some due to distance and my early leave from college to marry; as you do, but what a joy it is to keep up with her from time to time. She is getting married next month and we are thrilled for her. Anyways... the quote at the top of her blog is convicting, helpful, and moving. I thought I would share.

"DARE I REALLY LET GOD BE TO ME ALL THAT HE SAYS HE WILL BE?" OSWALD CHAMBERS

Dare I? Dare you?
What would life then look like for us...if we did just that?

Christmas on the River: Demopolis Style

Demopolis has been having Christmas on the River since 1974. It is a full week of festivites leading up to Saturday night with a light parade on the river. It is neat to see a small town come together and put on such a unique festival. Jared and I particularly look forward to the funnel cakes and fireworks. Alder enjoyed all the new things to see. He especially loved the parade with the local school bands and huge floats. Its small town America at its best.

Morning Fun

Thanksgiving Trip to Chattanooga

I am the world's worst when it comes to pulling my camera out to gets photos of even Alder but especially events with family and such. I mean the thought doesn't even cross my mind most of the time. So this is all I have. We had a great visit in Chattanooga with family, it was restful, and a nice break from home home. Alder loved Turkey Day, playing with cousins, seeing Rock City for the first time, entertaining his Kee Kee and Joe Joe as well as his uncles, and so on. Its like he knows he has them all wrapped around his finger.