What an Awesome God we serve!

Gotta tell you about what happened in the last 24 hours...Last night on our way to church, we heard a noise from the back of the truck. It sounded just like a piece of ice breaking free from between the cab and bed of the truck and sliding between the two. We didn't really give it another thought, even though we haven't had cold enough temps to have that kind of ice. We went to church, then to Wal Mart to get some things and then came home...going over 5 speed bumps to get to our apartment (trust me this plays into the story). So, we got to the apartment, and Andi couldn't find her keys...no biggie, I let us in and she figured they were buried in her purse or that she dropped them in the truck. This morning she went to look for them and couldn't find them at all. She grabbed one of the extra keys and fob for her car and left for work...and I had to lock the door. After she left and I locked the door, I couldn't get back to sleep thinking about where she might have lost her keys...if I was unsure of how the Lord works in our lives, I would probably say it was coincidence that reminded me of the noise last night; but, knowing how the Lord leads us, I know Who put that thought in my head. So, tonight after Andi got home, we drove back out (over two more speed bumps) on the road to look to see if the keys had fallen on the road. We both walked a section of the verge to see if they had slid off the road. No dice. We drove back to the apartment complex office so Andi could get a spare apartment key, then back to our apartment (over two more speed bumps). When we got out in front of our apartment, I thought I would look down between the cab and the bed of the truck to see if the keys had somehow gotten stuck on the frame of the truck (I had looked before we went out, but not seriously). I also turned on the clip light that I have on the bill of my cap, and what do you suppose I saw? The keys...lying on the frame of the truck, there even though we had done everything we could to dislodge them. God is so Awesome!!

Ryan had some trouble staying down for his nap today, so I brought him out on the sofa with me...and this is how he looked when he woke up. Nice bed head, huh?

Chloe @ 5 months

Sorry for the lateness of this post...I really meant to get these pictures up earlier in the week...and then life happened. Sunday night, I came home from watching football with the guys from our church, and within 10 minutes of me getting home, Ryan was crying. I got up to settle him down, only to find that he had thrown up...wake everybody up to get him cleaned up and settled down and sheets washed, etc. After we had settled him back down, in our bed and almost gotten to sleep, he threw up again...same process, only with our bed. We put a trash can next to our bed, and he used it several more times that night. He felt bad on Monday, and repeated the process Monday night (I didn't wake Andi up this time, Mom was a great help); we finally got him to sleep Monday night/Tuesday morning and he slept through. He started feeling better Tuesday, but Mom and I started throwing up Tuesday evening, and Andi started during the night. So, needless to say, we have had a week here. We are all felling better, although somewhat weak.

Here is Chloe's Karate Kid Crane Kick pose again.

Big Brother making her laugh.

Just a cutie.

This is the snowsuit that Mom bought for Ryan that he didn't get to wear much. Hilarious isn't it?

Snow Day

Not the best picture, I know...I thought by moving South, we were moving away from this. We got about 6 inches with ice on top which compressed it some. Andi says I'm not allowed to go out today because I will kill somebody because they don't know how to drive in this...she's probably right.

Sometimes you just gotta sleep

I had put Ryan down for a nap yesterday, and heard him playing some...when I went in his room, this is what I found. I guess sometimes you just have to sleep where you wind down. BTW, that is his bed just to his left. Apparently, he couldn't even make it that far.

Right Seat

You just have to have the right seat to watch Christmas shows. I was flipping channels today, and Ryan saw Mickey Mouse on Disney and screamed whenever I tried to change the channel. He dragged the storage bin that his train tracks go in over in front of the TV, and didn't move until the show went off.

Christmas Pictures

We had Christmas pictures taken a couple of weeks ago.

The Fallen

No I am not referring to the Transformers movie(which I still have yet to see - bad review from ChristianAnswers.net). I was referring to the degradation of parenting. When Ryan was born, anytime something that went in his mouth hit the floor, it immediately got 'sanitized' before he was allowed to use it again. Tonight, Chloe spit out her pacifier, and I actually thought "OK, no visible hairs," before I put it back in her mouth.

Chloe 4 months

Our little girl is 4 months old. It doesn't seem like it has been that long.


Anybody thinking crane kick from Karate Kid?

Kind of a weird face, but adorable


She is sitting up by herself, mostly, with a little prop from the sofa. She is really trying to sit up, though. She doesn't like to lay down, and strains to sit up whenever you lay her back.Here is a good picture of big brother saying "Cheese"

"Look, Chloe, this is Ben. He is named after Emily's brother."

Holy Cow! Ryan is 2

Ryan turned 2 on Thanksgiving Day, so in addition to the other things that we had to be thankful for, we are thankful to have had 2 years with our little man. We are so thankful for how God has provided for us this year, especially. With Chloe being born and the major upheaval of moving and all the support and help from our friends, we can't say how much we have to be thankful for.


Mimi (Gayle) got Ryan some track extensions for his trains (and a couple of trains) as a present. He is yelling at Percy (green) or Thomas (blue) for pushing Ben (yellow train) off the track.
Here he is eating (cup)cake on his birthday. Notice how he has a piece in both hands.
Opening his present from Mamaw and Papaw Allen.
It was a front-end loader that he can use to load up his dump truck. He was very excited to get it, and doesn't know what toys to play with now.

Teaser

We will post pictures next weekend (hopefully) after Ryan's 2 year birthday and Chloe's 4 month birthday, but here is a current picture taken tonight of Daddy's girl.

Chloe @ 3 months

Here is the obligatory truck picture. She is doing well, and growing like a bad weed.

Just an up close of our angel.

Not a real happy camper in her church clothes.

She is not really sitting up, but she is trying real hard...any time you lay her on the Boppy, she is straining to sit up.
Even propped up, she is cute.

Life has pretty much settled into somewhat of a routine for us. Andi has started work and I am staying home to watch the kids. It has been eye opening and completely enjoyable. The time I get to spend with them is demanding, and free time when they are asleep is luxurious and filled with folding clothes and such. I know, go ahead and call me "Mr. Mom." I don't know when I will start looking for a job, but keep praying for us as we seek where God will have us serve Him here.

2 months 28 days

Sorry, no pictures, but Chloe rolled over from her front to her back today. We tried to get some video, but she turned shy. Not to compare or anything, but Ryan didn't roll over until almost 5 months old.

Ryan chose to sleep in his big-boy bed today...he went right to sleep(with a little help from James)

Chris Junior

Just practicing my Daddy's hairdo.

Big brother

Ryan had to show Chloe how to play with the toys on the mat.

Chloe is 2 (months)

Here is Chloe at 2 months...she had a DR appt today, and was 11 lbs, 12 oz, 23 1/4 inches.
Ryan had to give her a kiss (but daddy had to hold the truck because he kept wanting to take her for a ride)

Here's how she felt about Ryan's kiss...
By the end, here's how she felt about the whole process...


All this happened after the Groffs graciously came over to help us with packing, and the Pituches brought us dinner. Thanks to all of our friends for everything they have done to help us prepare for our big move.

Chloe @ 1 month

I know it's a bit late, but here are Chloe's 1 month pictures. (Addendum to the update: Chloe went to the DR today and weighed 10 lbs, 1.5 oz)


Here is a picture of Ryan at the same point.


She was not very happy in most of her pictures, but in these, she was at least calm.

And a bonus of Ryan preparing for his job in about 10 years.

Ryan's first football game

I (Chris) took Ryan to his first football game last night...Bexley at Canal Winchester. He did AWESOME. He never fussed, except for a couple of times when the band played and the crowd got boisterous. Other than that, he sat on my lap and watched the game with great interest until we had to leave just before halftime to get him home to bed (and there was a storm approaching, and lightning in the sky, and Canal was winning 36-0). All in all, he was a great little boy the whole night.

We did it.

Here is our first official blog. Watch for more to come.