Please Pray...

Things have been so hectic in the Bartlett family these past few weeks! I have started working part time at our school ~Teaching K-4 afternoon class (all girls!!). Plus, I still have Kolton in the room with me (what was I thinking saying yes???) So, needless to say, I don't have much spare time for blogging anymore! On a serious note, Tommy and I are earnestly praying about some big decisions we have to make in the immediate future...I can't go into specifics at this present time, but we would really appreciate your prayers!!! Sometimes in life everything is so black and white it's easy to distinguish the decision we should make, and sometimes it's so gray that it's hard to know what to do. Like Pastor Sexton says...we're trying to choose between the good and the best! Hopefully, I can go into more details soon...Until then, please keep us in your prayers!

Messiness...

Ok, so I don't know why my last few posts have been centered around food, but anyway...After talking to my mother on the phone the other day, I decided it was time to start teaching Kolton to feed himself. Thinking of the mess that was sure the follow this decision, I was hesitant...but my mom brought to my attention that he was over a year old, and the mess wasn't going to get any less as he got older, so I might as well get it over with. He has been feeding himself with his fingers for a long time, but still, I was surprised at how coordinated he was at getting the spoon in his mouth (some could say it is a talent genetically passed down from his parents :o) Needless to say, he very much enjoyed eating his Dannon yogurt by himself, and I've noticed that since we've started with that, there's no going back...chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes, oatmeal...he thinks he should be feeding himself everything... Close up of the messiness...he's taking this feeding thing very seriously!!
As you can see, he really does love food! :o)

It's the little moments

This evening was nothing out of the ordinary...Tommy had a youth activity, but since Kolton hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days, we decided it would be best for Kolton and I to just hang out at home this time. So, after Tommy left, we played a little bit with the new train set Mamaw Bartlett got for him, then we watched Reba (something that we definitely only get to do when Dad's gone!), and after that it was snack time...we had Chinese for supper, and you know how that doesn't stick to your ribs very long! So, as usual, I sat Kolton up on the counter and he "helped" me make our graham cracker and peanut butter and strawberry cream cheese snacks (he loves them...and so do I!) As we were working, I couldn't help but think about how often I take these little moments for granted. I had to stop right there and thank the Lord for all the blessings He has given me in my life. A wonderful husband and a healthy son, good food to eat, a nice home to live in...and the list goes on and on. I get to live these little moments every day, and so often I'm busy rushing around doing work, that I don't take the time to dwell on them and really, truly enjoy them! So, that's what I'm doing tonight ~ as my sweet little boy is asleep in his room, and my precious husband just called from the activity to say "I love you", I'm taking the time to dwell on and thank the Lord for the little moments that make up my wonderful life.

This and That

Unfortunately, none of my family were able to be with us on Kolton's first birthday. Of course, they couldn't be left out of the celebration, so last time we were all together, we had Kolton a "pre-birthday" party. So, he had some good practice eating cake for the real thing! I think he loves chocolate ALMOST as much as his momma!!
My family always gives the best gifts...this bib is from my cousin Denise...and I love it ~ but I put it on Kolton backwards so I don't stain it!

Kolton's actual birthday started off with a big delivery from Gram and Pop. At first he wasn't too sure about all the balloons. He liked them from a distance ~ as long as Daddy was close by.

Then he let them get a little closer and a little closer until I had to take them away from him because he wanted to "kiss" them and I was afraid he would pop one and suck plastic down his throat!
As I said earlier, we decided against a party and took him instead to Busch Gardens for special time with Mommy and Daddy...I know you're probably thinking what our family thought, "they just wanted to go for themselves..." But, as you can tell by the look on his face, Kolton has a great time there too. He is a major people watcher ~a trait that he unfortunately got from his mother ~ I've been caught staring at people more times than I care to admit~so, he loved being strolled around watching the people go by. (You'll have to excuse the a little too up close and personal picture of myself- and cut me a little slack, it was over 100 degrees and my makeup had long melted off.)
He was tuckered out by the end of the afternoon. Don't you just love thumb suckers? They are such good babies!
On a different subject, I did get a couple new pictures of the wedding. I know I post alot of pictures of Kolton, but I'm equally proud of my husband, so I thought I'd stick one in here of him...looking all spiffy (sp????) in his tux...he's with his bro Travis.

And one of all the guys...with Kolton there in the middle looking like he was made to smile for the camera...you'll have to click on this picture to see it up close, it is so cute, even if I do say so myself!! :o)

Happy Birthday Kolton!!

I woke up this morning with a cloud of disbelief hanging over my head. My baby boy is one year old today! Even now, hours later, I still can hardly comprehend that a full year has past since he was born! I was looking through some of his old pictures, reminiscing about those days gone by, and thought I'd post a just a few of them to document his first year of life.
The days when you could hold Kolton with one hand are loooonnnnggg gone!!! I can barely tote him around with both arms and a hip :o)
It took him forever to start "beefing up", but once he did, the rolls were so cute.
He thinks he's the stuff here! He had just started pulling up at the beginning of the summer...(we went a little overboard on his beach gear !)
This is one of the most recent pictures of Kolton ~ he was much more interested in the grass than the camera!
We're off this evening to celebrate his birthday offically...since Tommy's position in the church, we opted out of having an actual birthday party (we couldn't pick and choose who to invite...it was either everyone or no one.) He's already had a pre-birthday party with my family, so we decided to just take him out for some fun with mommy and daddy, since he won't remember anything anyway...but don't worry, he still gets to dig into a birthday cake!

Another Post!! Yea!!

Well, I know it's not as if people have been holding their breath for this post or anything, but I still feel bad for not writing anything in so long. I'm still waiting on pictures of my little cutie in his tux (I got so carried away with other things the day of the wedding - like keeping his white tux clean!! -, that I didn't take one picture of him, so I'm relying on other people to get some to me.) I do, however, have a couple from the wedding, so I thought I'd post those.

For those of you who don't know, Travis and Joanna are my brother and sister-in-law ~ They were married on August 4th. This is a picture of them the day they got engaged. Here are some of the groomsmen with Travis about two hours before the wedding...at Wendy's
Travis and Joanna after the wedding...
Leaving the church ~ they had to come back 5 minutes later because they forgot the key to their new apartment :) If you look, you can see Tommy in the background. If you look REALLY closely, you can see Kolton in his white tux...hopefully I'll get better pics than that soon!

Still Alive and Well..

I looked at my blog today and couldn't believe it has been such a long time since I've posted anything. I mean, my life is boring, but not THAT boring :) Actually, I have been on the road for the last few weeks, and between the driving and visiting with family, I don't have time to sit down and write much of anything. Tommy's brother Travis got married last week, and Kolton wore a little white tux that matched Tommy's, so, when I get home, I'll have some really cute pics to post!