Larsyn is ONE!

One year ago today, on my actual due date God blessed us with exactly what our family needed. An 8lb 15oz sweet, loving, quiet (quite the opposite from her sister), perfect little princess. This past year has been a learning curve for me to say the least. I kinda thought I had motherhood all figured out, but mommy to two is a whole different ballgame! This was my first year as a stay at home mom, and I honestly thought I would be conquering the world...well that didn't happen...but I am so thankful for the opportunity that God has given our family for me to stay home with our girls. We are truly blessed! Ok, back to Larsyn turning ONE! Sweet little L LOVES minnie and mickey so we thought it was only fitting to have that as our themed birthday party. Our amazing and talented daddy went to work on the door sign (he doesn't see the importance of this, but he humors me). He also made a big ONE for the table...he is so crafty!

Here are few more pics of the decorations and such for the Minnie and Mickey birthday bash at Pawpaw and Gigi's clubhouse!

Larsyn's special day started with an abundance of gifts from family and friends. I can't tell you how much each of you mean to us! She is SO spoiled, but we are very grateful you love our family and invest in our lives. Here are some pics of the 1 yr old (so crazy she is already ONE!) opening her gifts, some of them are kinda blurry...I was not on picture duty, but I am not pointing any fingers, daddy! (She liked the tissue paper the best).

Thank you to EVERYONE who made our sweet Larsyn's FIRST birthday so special. We treasure each of you!

After presents, it was cake time of course! I can't speak highly enough of Uptown Bakery in Edmond. If you live here, seriously check them out...AND if your little one is turning ONE, your smash cake is FREE! Larsyn was not too excited about the cake, we don't eat a lot of sugar at our house, so it was WAY too sweet for her...but we did get a few good pics!

And after cake it was swim time! Larsyn took a little dip in the pool with Daddy, doesn't it just make your heart melt to see a daddy with his daughter (in our case daughterS). It is such a special bond, and the girls are so lucky to call this man daddy!

Larsyn had her ONE year pics taken by Brittney Lynn Photography in Choctaw (check her out, she did great!), but I don't have the pics just yet, but I took a few pics in our front yard...not too shabby if you ask me...

I can't imagine what God has planned for this sweet girl, but I know it is nothing short of amazing. She is such a ray of sunshine and her laugh and smile are so contagious! Happy Birthday Larsyn Lane, we love you so much! Love, Mommy

Journey Is Three...How did this happen so fast?!

Our first born is 3...no way! It feels like yesterday that we were taking her home from the hospital (completely clueless on how to care for a child). It is such an honor and a privilege to be Journey's mommy and to watch her grow and learn. This year I asked her what theme she wanted for her birthday party and she chose Cinderella. I figured it would change several times, so I waited a month or so, and asked again...still Cinderella! So we (Drew is a party planner too!) jumped in with both feet and planned the best (in my opinion) Cinderella birthday party EVER!

Daddy is so talented! I bought Drew a piece of foam board and said "I need a cinderella dress, and this little masterpiece is what he created!

We celebrated with family and friends at Cinderella's Castle...our house :) Journey is truly blessed with amazing people who love her so much, I'm sure God hand picked each of you to love our special little girl! Thank you all for coming and celebrating her.

These are a few of her FAVORITE things... Journey Rose Joseph-3 years old Favorite Color: Blue Favorite Movie: Finding Nemo Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese Favorite Animal: Giraffe Favorite Song: 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O my Soul) Favorite Restaurant: Chick-fil-a Favorite TV Show: Little Einstein's Favorite Snack: Goldfish Favorite Game: Red light, Green light...fun for about 5 minutes! Favorite Drink: MILK! Enjoy a few pics from the celebration...

Love, The Joseph Family

We are still here!

Yes we are still here, and yes I do realize I haven't posted in a VERY long time! My new years resolution is blog more and document the hilarious moments in our day to day life, but first let me get you all caught up (or somewhat caught up) from last time, so here is the first blog of 2013! A look back at 2012: January-April were kind of a blur as Drew was in Afghanistan and I was working full-time, raising an 18 month old and pregnant! Thankfully I have amazing family and friends close by that helped in many ways! The 2011-2012 school year was my first year teaching, God provided me with the opportunity to teach 5th grade at Angie Debo Elementary school, and let me tell you the teachers there are AMAZING! As most first year teachers, you really just try to survive, but my first year was more than that, it was a learning experience and I am so blessed to have experienced it. I met new friends, and learned a lot about myself. Drew returned in April from a 4.5 month deployment...Praise God! He was safe and sound and ready to help deliver our 2nd daughter! We had found out the day Drew left (December 1st) that we were expecting...yes we were both shocked!

In May, I said goodbye to my first class, co-workers and paycheck! Drew and I (more me, with his support) decided to follow God's calling for my life at this moment and stay home with our children. I was very nervous for this change, but each day I see my children learning something I teach them, each sacrifice we have made to make it possible to stay home is all worth it! This is only a small season in my life, and yes I will return to teaching eventually, but right now this is the BEST time in my life and I am loving every minute of it. I truly believe God has already gone before me and planned my life and once I relinquished control of my fear of not contributing to our family he blessed me beyond measure by allowing me to stay home with my girls. In June Journey turned 2! How can she be growing up so fast? She is such a sweet and funny child and keeps us on our toes! Her birthday was bubble-themed and she had a blast with friends and family. She also transitioned into her "big girl" bed and she did great! We actually dis-assembled her crib and put it in the garage so it wasn't an option for her to sleep in it ;)

I also bought an embroidery machine and was going to start a little side business...what was I thinking...I obviously wasn't! It was short lived and RoseLane Designs closed it's doors (for now). July 26th 2012 at 4:58pm we welcomed Larsyn Lane Joseph into the world! She weighed 8lbs 15oz and was 21 inches long! We were so shocked she was so big since the doctor estimated she weigh about 7lbs.

For those of you who would like to know, here is how her birthday went: On July 26th at 9:00am Drew and I went in for my last doctor appointment before I was going to be induced. The doctor checked me and I was dilated to a 2 and was effaced slightly, however she thought my water may have broken (slowly leaking)...wouldn't I have known if my water had broken!!! She also mentioned that her and her husband had tickets to a play that night so under NO circumstances were we having a baby today ;) Anyway, she sent me downstairs (we delivered at Lakeside, and I fully recommend it!) to double check if my water had actually broken and to monitor my contractions. Well my water had NOT broken however my contractions were about 4 minutes apart by now (10:45am). She was going to send me home and induce me the next morning, but she went ahead and let me walk the halls for about 45 minutes and she would check me just before she went to lunch...I was not up for this AT ALL...exercise at a time like this!?! About an hour later she came in and by the look on her face I could tell she was concerned, she told the nurse to get an IV started ASAP that I was dilated to an 8 1/2 and 100% effaced...what? In 45 minutes?! No way! I was in labor for 22 hours with little miss Journey so I just figured it would be the same...boy was I WRONG! I wish I would have known, I would have had a better breakfast! After that, I got the epidural although I think I could have done it natural I wasn't willing to risk it...ha! Family and friends can to the hospital and the doctor arrived around 4:30 after all her afternoon appointments and being paged because I couldn't wait ANY LONGER! I pushed for 12 minutes and our beautiful baby was here at last. I was so nervous that I couldn't love another child as much as Journey, but my heart grew so much when the doctor laid her in my arms. God has blessed our family with two happy and healthy children.

August and September were spent adjusting to the lifestyle of having 2 children (yes, it was VERY different). Journey tried to send Larsyn "back to where she came from" and wanted to know "where Larsyn's mommmy and daddy were". All the prep work we did obviously didn't sink in...but she has adjusted and is the BEST big sister around. Journey started Mother's Day Out and she is really enjoying it...her best friend Brice is in her class and their love/hate relationship is adorable.

October we went to the Parkhurst Pumpkin patch and the girls loved it. Journey was able to ride in the carriage, just like CINDERELLA of course! She is a celebrity in our house.

November we spent Thanksgiving with family and spent time talking to the girls about what our family has to be thankful for. Journey thanked God for each and every person, animal, and toy she could think of...it was precious!

December was a busy month of Christmas shopping (why oh why do I wait until December to shop?) We spent time with family and drove to South Padre Island on Christmas morning...we had to stop in San Antonio for the night because we hit the winter storm that arrived as we were driving. We didn't leave San Antonio until we gave the girls a history lesson at the Alamo! Then it was full speed ahead to the beach! We had lots on fun and there were 2 good bathing suit beach days, however Journey preferred the pool (isn't that how it usually works?). We rode scooters, went Bay fishing, mom and Taylor played Bingo, had family game night and ate LOTS of cookies!

We rang in the New Year and then headed home...the trip there was much harder than the trip home, the girls were troopers and Journey didn't have one accident...did I mention she is POTTY TRAINED! She has been since right after Thanksgiving! She pretty much trained herself, although we did do a rewards sticker chart (the teacher in me likes to think this is why it happened so fast)! All in all, 2012 was pretty spectacular! I can't wait to see what God has planned for 2013, I'm sure it will be just as special...who couldn't have fun with these two little people?!?

Well this blog has taken me 2 days to complete and is by far the longest you will see from me this year, but it's a start! Happy New Year! Love you all.