6 months

little Judson Ray, you are too big for your 6 month britches!

you are so full of life

and lots of personality

 

people often say things like "oh, it will get easier" or "he's getting to the fun age"

and i have to say, "he is actually really easy and really fun"

i truly love every day with you. every.single.day

the mornings are my favorite time with you

you are the happiest baby

you are really only fussy when you're tired

you get frustrated when you can't get where you want to go

as soon as i pick you up, you try to flip your body around and lean towards the ground

you want to get down and go!

when i put you on the floor, you end up 5 feet away...somehow

you are seriuosly working on crawling...just a' scooting, spinning and rolling

(can someone please buy this kid a toy!?!?!)

you are worming your way around...like a little inchworm.
 

you are very aware of me and your dad

 

you LOVE water bottles

you want to eat everything that we do...or at least grab the spoon or fork or cup

 

you've started eating solids/purees and would probably prefer a steak

 you don't mind baths anymore!

you have some soul-searching eyes. they are big and beautiful.

 

we just love you and you busy body

you sleep great at night and naps are pretty good for the most part

you put yourself to sleep in your crib after doing laps and making crib-sheet angels

you reach out for us now and it kinda' does my heart good.

you respond to your name being called.

your best friends would probably be Trigger, Pa and your daddy. you reach out for Trigger more than anyone. or perhaps you're just trying to get down.

 

i love it when you look up at me when i'm holding you.

a couple of weeks ago, we spent an afternoon at your cousins track meet and tennis match. i think that you truly had fun. you were passed back and forth from cousin to cousin to aunt to aunt and watched all the kids around you. it was a beautiful day. you felt the grass in between your toes, the sun was bright and the breeze was perfect. i think you knew what a great day it was. when we were leaving, i could tell that you were getting tired, but you were satisfied. as were were walking to the car, it was just me and you. i looked at you and asked if you had fun. you looked right into my eyes, grabbed my face and grinned.

oh my sweet boy...that is good for my soul.

YOU are good for my soul.

random links

1. Martha Stewart is 71. I could not believe this number.

2. My new favorite blog. things i like about it: her house, her garden, her chicken coop, her photography (!), her sweet kids, her creativity. ok, so i want to be her.

3. wishing for this guy or something like it to enjoy the evenings outside with my guys

4. this is hilarious...i laughed out loud at the portrait reveals. it is based on the Dove real beauty sketches

5. i would like to make these for gifts sometime

6. well, isn't this outdoor vanity just perfect

7. thinking about this 'do. Sheryl Crow makes it look good and i'm thinking about cutting off some length
8.  i love broadway. i do. and these chicks can saaaaaang.

9. Judson really is a great sleeper. but, sometimes...just sometimes, afternoon naps make me feel like this

the end.

half a year

if the second half is as good as the first half....

...then this year with Judson will be a chart-topper.

 

except for, maybe, the first 2 months
he was great, it wasn't him...it was, um, me?

let's be honest and admit to how much i love to sleep

so the first little bit was a haze and i rarely left the couch

not saying they weren't sweet and precious and all that, but girl!(and boys..if there are any of you out there reading),  i was tired.

a blessed kinda tired. but tired.

 

but, i'll do it again someday and i'd like to think i'll be more aware of the world in the beginning stages of baby-dom.

we'll see, someday.

 

as for now, let's just raise our glasses and toast the little guy and his 6 months of life.

it's a beautiful and happy life.

and i am so, so grateful for it.

Wordless Wednesday: maker

several weeks ago, I heard Geoff Moore sing and share with us

He has been a part of (written or co-written(sp?))some great worship songs over the past 20 or so years.

 

He shared with us about adopting his two girls from China and a little of their background.

He told us how much joy they brought to his life and how he never knew how much he needed them.

He told us that one of his daughters was found under a bridge as a baby and given to an orphanage.

His other daughter has a similar story.

Then he shared this:

"Anna asked me a while back if Jesus knew her when she was a baby in China and if He knew where she was". {cue the waterworks}

then he sang these words 

 

we sing these words often at our church, but never before have they been so alive to me.

the words have been given texture and a face.

 

I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hand

I have a Father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

spring weekends

these California-esque weekends are d-vine!

nothing on the agenda (and no schoolwork due!) is even better and kinda' rare.

we are thankful.

 

per usual, we started Saturday morning out at Cracker Barrel.

 Ms.Patsy, our usual waitress, and other waitresses commented on how big Judson is getting.

he's been a routine patron since month 1

"he'll be ordering before too long"- i say in jest (knowing it is truth...tear)

 

we love these mornings

 

GT used Saturday and Sunday to do some grass cuttin' and what not

Dad did some bush-hogging and burning

we watched.

everyone was pleased

we gussied ourselves up and utilized our ever-ready babysitter Saturday night

ain't Honey and Pa grand?

 



 as luck(ha!) would have it, we were both in blue and white stripes and a photo-op was born

{as if i needed an excuse}

 

 it's pretty convenient that i'm married to my boyfriend

and he flatters me by taking iphone selfies in the truck

 

 he cleans up purty nice, eh?

also, the hand on hip is always a bad idea...in hindsight, of course.

 

 

parental house update:

 things are cruising right along!

this home is going to be beautiful and the view is amazing.

spending many hours on that porch is in my future.

especially on these perfect weekends.



true self + scripture prints

i've been mulling this over for about a month now. God has been working on me lately in this area. I feel more and more challenged, on a daily basis, to be on purpose in living like Jesus and not my self.

 

Recently, I've started to questions someones motive/sincerity in doing something nice for someone else.

Does it matter if we think they are being sincere? What if they are trying to do the right thing?
 

 

Here's the deal.
We are human. We are all sinners.

Our natural self might not perform the way that we are called to.

that's why God gave us the Holy Spirit... to guide us.

So if we don't think someone is being sincere in a nice or thoughtful gesture, maybe they're just denying their natural self in actions so that their heart may soon follow.

fake it til you make it
 

we are all born with specific personality traits. some parents elect to have their child express their personality and feel wrong in changing it or adjusting it. Others feel that a personality can be herded and managed, even changed. (more thoughts on that later)

I remember taking the Myers-Briggs a few years ago and really struggling to answer the questions.

i knew what i naturally would do in a situation, but knowing that's not how my actions would necessarily play out. ca-peesh?

Naturally, i am an introvert. I didn't realize this about myself until recent years. I was raised to be an extrovert. (perhaps i am naturally both?). i was raised to be friendly and outgoing, when actually i'd rather be at my house and talk very little.

does this mean i should do just that?

or should i deny my natural self and be friendly and reach out to others?

(I know I a referencing my natural personality, not my natural spiritual nature. but it's a metaphor...go with it.)

 

 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. -Romans 8:5

 

This has been running through my head for a while and I wasn't sure what to do with it.

Then yesterday, Trent said this:

"Your flesh is always going to desire more and more and more and more because you have not been designed, as a being, to have your flesh satisfied and that be the point of greatest contentment in your life.  

You have been designed to be plugged in to the divine creator of the entire universe and through something supernatural to so fulfill your spirit that nothing in the flesh comes even close to being that satisfying."

 (you can listen to the rest of his sermon here)

 

and I was like....YES!

that's it

We can not expect our natural self to bring satisfaction to our life and in our interaction with others!

We can not do it.

We must deny our natural self.

If my actions were based on natural desires, i'd be hopeless and alone.

I would have driven everyone I love away from me by this point.

Purely seeking to satisfy myself.

I would be so ugly to others.

Thank you Jesus for showing us how to live.

I am a far cry from doing it right, but I have a guide and try to follow.

I am also thankful for his mercy.

i need it every morning.

 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. -Romans 8:6-13

 

how good it is to see scripture for the first time, after reading it for years.

 

 

and on that note................... 

i love having scripture on the walls of my home

this lady has made it happen

see her new prints, they are wonderful!

Naptime Diaries

 

 

thankful for His written word

 

Happy Monday!

Friday insta-love

happy weekend peeps!

 

the internet gods smiled on us today.

i.e., at&t figured out what the problem was and hooked us up...what what?!

therefore i can get my homework completed...blah.

and blog...more importantly.

 

i'm hopeful for a beautiful weekend with my guys and perhaps a hot date!

 

we are in continual prayer for the Boston and West,Tx communities.

sometimes the tragedies of this world are too much for us to comprehend.

praise God for our hope in Him! this world is not our home.

but as we are still residents of this earth, i will earnestly lift those that are hurting up in prayer.

i can only imagine.

 

here are some photos of our little guy over that past two weeks from Instagram

you can find me over at the gram: goodtimestaylor

1. trick stands

2. cardi's and tee's

3. baby food is for the birds

4. uncle jake dominates Cracker Barrel

5. he won his first tennis match and track meet

6. contemplation

7.hanging on

8. heavenly sights for me

9. walks with dad and Woodrow

Wordless Wednesday: memory lane

Tomorrow, i will remember the day that changed my life.

It's amazing how, at one moment, you are going in one direction with your life. full force. no doubts.

then, in one day, it can completely change...forever.

cliche as it may be, this has happened to all of us.

of course, April 18, 2009 wasn't as dramatic as i've made it sound.

it was actually a pretty chill and relaxing day.

a little tail-gating and music. a good time (a little story to come about how good times taylor was born)

tomorrow is the 4th anniversary of the day i met my man.
I love to remember this day.
It really was so much fun.
I remember feeling so many emotions towards the situation
excited, but reserved
hopeful, but cautious
willing, but hesitant
I was being set-up and wasn't sure what would happen.ooooohhhhhh those butterflies

We've been a pair since that day and I have not looked back (except for that one freak out moment a few months into dating!)
 I'm all in. He ain't gettin' rid of me!

So, I raise my glass to Jimmy Buffett every year on April 18th!
and Lauren and Patrick.... our dear match-makers.

enjoy some JB today 

 

and this is hilarious

Sunday portrait series: the boys

i've shared this tidbit before.
GT does a way better job of dressing Judson than I do

i dress him for comfort, gt dresses him for style

so, i usually leave Sundays best up to dad

i buy the clothes, but always default to solid onesies and cotton britches



last week was the best so far

we are both looking forward to the day (not wishing this one away at the same time) that JR can just go to the barn and work alongside his dad.
the day when I can tell Judson to go with ride with his dad on the tractor or help him bush-hog or put out corn during deer season.
whatever it may be.
some day he will be his dad's side-kick.
for now, he's a momma's boy.

 attached to me.
sure it's because i'm his only source of sustenance, but i'll take it.
 i'd like to think it's also because he adores me, maybe?
but it's probably for the food.

the day will surely come when i can't separate these 2

(or 4..Trig and Woodrow not far behind).

i don't think we're very far from that day.

 

 

 

i found this gem among the photos we took

i don't know where we went wrong

Can you hear me now?

1. Our Internet isn't working. The storm came through and our wireless is acting a fool. Sounds like a circa 2001 problem. I get too frustrated too easily to figure it out (i.e., be on the phone for 288641 hours with AT&T). 

So I'm posting from my phone. Tediously typing with three fingers. (first world problems) 

2. some things GT says

Following some conversation about who knows what. 

Kate: "I'm not as uptight as I used to be"

GT: twenty minutes of laughter. "aaahhh....honest evaluations of ones self. Not as uptight as she used to be. Judson, Aren't we thankful?" 

Via text this morning 

GT: "the blog world is starving"

He's the reason I blog. Honest. He daily tells me to "feed the people, Kate". I guess he refers to himself as "the people". 

3. Our dogs sleep on a dog bed in the laundry room. They stay outside during the day. (read: they are stank nasty) I woke up during the crazy storm the other night to our blue heeler trying to get into our bed. What!?!? Nah nah son. I understand he was scared, but no way. Back up. I love 'em, but I also love not having nasty dog all up in my bed. The end.

4. I can't get over this pic of GT and his sibs from the ancient vaults. 

 A few things: a) cowlicks b) that tie reminds me of Seinfeld c) Kim's bangs, we all had them at some point. bless her d) thankful that Ty is holding onto that water pump e) our children are going to be ginormously tall 

5. I locked my keys in my car this week. We were leaving a ball game early because JR was tired and hungry. We had to wait 40 minutes for pop-a-lock.

 I now know what mom-guilt is. 

I also know what it's like to nurse Judson in my dads truck in a school parking lot. Cool, huh? No? 

6. This lives in my house now

And so does the furniture. Hahahaha, I'm so funny. Seriously.... I love this piece. 

And the furniture, too. 

Hahahaha. Ok I'm stopping now. 

Cheers to a beautiful weekend!

celebrating easter

if you have followed this blog for any length of time or know my family at all, then you are familiar with our epic gatherings.

no gathering is small.

especially Easter.

 

this year was no exception.

my mom is one of 6 children and all but 1 live on the same street

on Easter Sunday, my mamaw Jo had all of her children, all of her grand-children, and all of her great-grand-children in the same place

what a crew

and spouses aren't pictured!

(i'm sure there's a better quality pic out there, i just don't have it)

 

 

my sibs and nephews came in for Easter weekend, along with a lot of other family. we just enjoyed being together. the weather wasn't exactly perfect, but we made the most of it.

the only pic with my kiddo

good one, huh?

Beau's easter egg dance

obviously

Judson Ray's Sunday best

literally.

what do you say allergies?

twinsies

gotta love a pre-church parking lot pic

we might not have a family photo, but Jamie and I sure had a photo sesh

what's more fun than taking pictures of a 2 year old, 5 month old and 4 month old?

trying to hold onto a bunch of ADHD worms probably

and then trying to make them smile

this kid.

i can't ever get enough of him and his faces

the chaos of egg hunting in the mud


we are beyond blessed to be surrounded by a huge family
celebrating with them is always joyful, chaotic and belly-filling
even with the blessing of family, my life would be nothing if it weren't for an empty tomb

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Matthew 28:1-7

i have hope and joy because He is risen!