The Davidson Family

Oh, to be down south again...

2008-10-26T15:36:00.001-04:00

he keeps me hoppin'

2008-07-25T15:59:00.000-04:00

emmit's learning body parts...even mickey's:)

emmit chewed a chunk out of his bed bug bumper...i found a trail of foam in our bedroom, his bedroom & the bathroom!

"helping" momma in the kitchen

playing peek-a-boo at the toledo zoo. unfortunately it was such a warm day it seemed that all the animals were sleeping:(

the kid LOVES flowers!

taking a stroll in the creek (the raging creek at that!). do all dads do things w/ the kids that make the mommy's heart skip a beat...in fear, that is?

ooo...are they handsome!

Emmits' a big boy now...he gets his step stool from the hall closet to wash his hands &/or brush his teeth then he puts it back where it belongs.

yes, emmit's eating life cereal off the kitchen floor. you know when your kid does something that he should get in trouble for but it's just so funny that you can't hold yourself back from laughing & taking lots & lots of pictures? i'm sure he'll catch on to that one any day now!

peanut butter makes great hair pomade

This is what we do after an afternoon of making cards.

here we come

2008-07-25T15:32:00.003-04:00

Well, we're off to Trenton, MI this coming Fri-Sat (hope the caps are easier to read...mom:) to move into our rental house. I'll try to get a walk through video of it next time we're over there for the family. I really, really love the house & would snatch it up if the market wasn't so shaky & if we were sure we'd be living in MI for a while longer (you know, enough to make some sort of profit off of it). The house has 2 bedrooms (3 if you don't count the playroom on the first floor), a sun room of the living/dining area, 1 1/2 bathrooms, new carpet (so looking forward to not having to clean hardwood floors anymore!, fresh pretty paint, new roof, new siding, new furnace & AC. The basement is spotless but unfinished, kind of. It's definitely possible to put some sort of family living area down there (there's a great pool table down there right now, which is staying:) but we'll see if we need the space for that sort of thing. The landlord lives across the street but her & here husband are soooo great! I was really hoping that would work out! She's cool about letting us do really whatever we want to the interior of the house:) Ikea here we come! I'm really looking forward to finally being able to "live" in a house that we can make a home, at least visibly:) Our first 2 places have been plain Jane.

So that's the family scoop for now. Will try to get more on this site as I have opportunity between the moving madness:)

learning his letters

2008-07-15T15:57:00.000-04:00

i have come to learn that emmit's brain is like a sponge. it seems that i can't teach him new concepts, words, letters, ideas, etc fast enough. just when he's latched onto one thing he's starting on another. i started working on letters with emmit around his 18th month when i heard somewhere that that is the age when children begin to soak up everything in their path. now i find him sitting in his room reading through his letter books or puzzle practicing his letters (or just reading to himself while humming:). it's so cute! i think in this video he says balloon & banana (kind of).

poor thing :)

2008-07-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

moving on...finally

2008-06-28T17:21:00.008-04:00

aaaahhhhh...the joys of not having to keep my house spotless for the never ending lineup of people wanting to view it...whew, what a year it has been! we put our house up for sale just about 1 year ago. we found out today that the couple who made an offer a few months back definitely want to buy our house. they wanted to do one more walk through today just to nail down their decision, since it has been 2 months already. as for our great plans...we're just going to stay around here (sorry to all our family & friends in ohio;) & rent for a few years & wait to see where the Lord leads us.

let the search begin...again.

boy, oh boy

2008-06-28T17:15:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

our newest addition to the family...

2008-06-27T16:39:00.000-04:00

...meet mr. fishy:)

big boy bed

2008-06-27T16:21:00.000-04:00

a few months ago we tried our hand at transitioning emmit to his big boy bed because he figured out how to get up on the side of his crib on his belly...little stinker. unfortunately we couldn't find a rail that would cooperate w/ both the crib & emmit so we had to put the front of his crib back on. we were just hoping that he wouldn't figure out how to actually propel his whole body over the side (thus possibly resulting in our 3rd trip to the ER with our little houdini). i came across a great product, for all you mommies out there! it's called Bed Bug Bumper. what it is is simply 2 big pieces of some sort of squishy styrofoam that is placed under the fitted sheet at the edge of the bed. it is absolutely amazing!!! emmit can climb safely in & out of his bed without us fearing grave injury...& that is exactly what he does. the first night he stayed in his "new" bed until i heard him the next morning & went in to get him up. each successive morning & nap there on out has been more & more of a discovery of his own independence. sometimes he'll open the door & stand there quiet as a mouse until one of us get up to peek down the hall...he then, of course, proceeds to giggle & shriek as if he pulled one over on us. this afternoon we left for the park after lunch but he ended up falling asleep right when we got there...so we headed back home. the minute i laid that boy down he was wired tight as a spring. i heard him wandering around, opening & closing the door, chattering to himself, etc, etc...oh to be a fly on that wall:) so, after many unsuccessful attempts at getting the little booger back to bed we had a snack. i'm sure he was thrilled. he finally went to sleep around 3:30/4pm. 1 1/2-2 hours after his nap time. not too sure if i'm liking this independence thing. i'm starting to lose more of my independence...but, for the greatest cause, my son:)

emmit's first night in his "new bed"

emmit that next morning...still in bed...now he opens the door chattering, "hello mommy & daddy, i'm awake & ready to go!"

just call me irrisitable

2008-06-27T16:08:00.000-04:00

this video is from about a month ago & thankfully emmit has pretty much mastered the spoon bit. as you can see his table etiquette is immaculate...watch out little ladies...here he comes (well, in about 30 more years...if his parents have anything to say about it:)!

thankful to be an american

2008-06-27T15:37:00.003-04:00

"plumpy nut" almost sounds like something made in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. as silly as the name sounds this vitamin packed form of peanut butter has been proven to reverse malnutrition in children. CBS News has a great segment on this new found wonder at the following link (copy & paste into browser):
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/19/60minutes/main3386661.shtml

as i watched the segment my heart was grieved for all those little babies & children who had barely anything in this life to claim except maybe the clothes on their back. i thought about how much i am panged to see my own son go through difficult transitions, sicknesses, a stubbed toe or a hurried trip to the ER. to imagine walking miles upon miles through the jungles of africa, through the day & night, with a child on my back, barefooted was simply inconceivable. i can't imagine living in such conditions being pushed to my limits physically & emotionally almost everyday. as difficult as times seem to be here for us in the states i am immensely proud to be an American & very grateful to the Lord for sovereignly placing me where i am, at this exact time & place within the vast span of history past, present & future. i could not be more greatly blessed.

He is Faithful

2008-06-25T13:14:00.008-04:00

as emmit & i were headed to the grocery store this morning i turned on the radio to listen to the weather (it looked like we were going to get caught in some rain). i had left the radio on 89.9fm, a classical station located in canada, the evening before. what i heard in the next five minutes, or so, was almost surreal yet gripped my heart & mind with such a strong sense of the reality of my Lord i just couldn't change the station. so, i listened on. what i perceived to hear was an old man, a very old man, quietly singing...

Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet,
Jesus’ blood never failed me yet.
This one thing I know, for he loves me so.

he sang with such carefree & confident joy in his Lord. he continued to sing this simple song over & over & over. i thought this heavenly song would never end & wondered how in the world this got on national radio. as he continued to sing his voice began to fade out a bit & another strong younger male voice began singing the same words...

Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet,
Jesus’ blood never failed me yet.
This one thing I know, for he loves me so.

how beautiful! it was almost as if the younger man's voice was the old man proclaiming the same wondrous message in his earlier years. i thought to myself in these minutes how very much i desire these same words to be my heart's cry at the end of my life...the great faithfulness of my great God! He is faithful to the very end.

"Who will separate us from the love of God? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? just as it is written, 'For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 AMEN!!!

what a glorious, merciful, gracious, loving God we serve! His abundant strength is made perfect in our human weaknesses.

"Remember my affliction & my wandering, the wormwood & bitterness. Surely my soul remembers & is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him" Lamentations 3:19-25

There is an unwavering, unfailing, steadfast, confident hope found in the Lord.

Jesus' blood never fails
By John Fischer

There is a quirky piece of music written and recorded by the British composer Gavin Bryars that features a continuous running tape loop of a homeless man recorded on the streets of London singing an old Gospel song, “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet.” The old man’s voice is wistful and wobbly, with a Cockney accent that somehow carries with it a toothless grin you can almost see, and a confidence that stands in stark contrast to his situation.

Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet,
Jesus’ blood never failed me yet.
This one thing I know, for he loves me so.

A reporter, who was a friend of the composer, recorded this little song by accident while researching a story on London’s poor, and Bryars was captivated by its simple grandeur. He was haunted by the power of the old man’s sincerity and the boldness of his hope even though, by his own admission, he does not share his faith. That’s when he got the idea to immortalize the man’s testimony by writing an orchestral accompaniment that would weave intricately in and around the sinewy voice as it repeated, over and over again, its confidence in the never-failing love of Jesus. The end result is a 75-minute recording that gradually works its way through various musical shades and colors while the toothless voice grins on and on.

Little did he know it was going to turn into something of a phenomenon. The piece scored a pop hit in Britain and did fairly well in America. Though it is considered a classical recording, its unique composition appealed to a broad range of people, especially a younger audience that turned it into a sort of pop icon.

Think about it: a bum out on the streets in the lowest of states, carrying a hopeful message to hundreds of thousands of people about the reality of Christ’s love that defies his health, his circumstances, and the physical conditions that are his daily reality. Hearing it always makes me see whatever I might be going through at the time in a different light.

“Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 NLT Or, to put it another way, whatever happens to you or me, we can always say, “Jesus’ blood never failed me yet.”

http://www.gavinbryars.com/Pages/jesus_blood_never_failed_m.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnYA0w4cWiE (the full song)

copy & paste the link above in your browser to hear a brief clip of this song.

Look at the bottom left of the web page

dirt...a boy's best friend

2008-06-15T15:20:00.000-04:00

if there is one thing that emmit can't get enough of...it's DIRT. i love it because my sisters & i were genuine tomboys & loved to be outside whether it was playing in the dirt/mud, splashing in rain puddles, running through the grass barefoot (or up & down our stone driveway! boy, were the bottoms of our feet ever calloused!!!), climbing trees, making forts, etc, etc:) so, i guess loving dirt runs in the family. eating dirt, on the other hand, i wasn't the typical dirt-eating child. maybe my toes or finger nails, but good night...dirt?! YUK!!! now, someone please comfort my heart & tell me that your child has munched on dog doo...i'm sure emmit is not the only one:)

this is a special area of our backyard that we have renamed "emmit's corner".

to the man i love

2008-06-15T14:39:00.004-04:00

Mrs. C.H. Spurgeon, the wife of the great theologian from the 1800s, Charles H. Spurgeon, puts my thoughts & affections into words: "how little i then thought that my eyes looked on him who was to be my life's beloved; how little i dreamed of the honor God was preparing for me in the near future! it is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." the theologian says this of his wife, which i echo from my heart towards my husband, "i knew i loved you very much before, but now i feel how necessary you are to me." (Mrs. C.H. Spurgeon , by Charles Ray, 1905) my husband has come to mean more to me through our six years of marriage than i ever thought could be possible. i eagerly anticipate the years the Lord, in His grace, gives to us together as husband & wife & as a family.

throughout this year i have been studying through a book by Martha Peace called The Excellent Wife. the Lord has opened my eyes to my weaknesses as a wife, in what specific areas i need to change in obedience to God's word, & is graciously turning my eyes back to His word and teaching me how to truly love mitch, honor him, respect him, and submit to him...for the Lord's glory and for the testimony of His wondrous grace in our lives. yes, this statement flies in the face of what we hear & are taught every day through the media, talk shows, public female figures, movies, books, magazines, etc, etc. but what does the Word of God say...Titus 2:3-5 "older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, BEING SUBJECT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." (emphasis added). God's word truly is sufficient to meet all my needs & lead me in the right way. II Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" (emphasis added) Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet & a light to my path." Psalm 19:7-11 "the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. they are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honey comb. moreover, is your servant warned; in keeping then there is great reward." II Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness; through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory & excellence." Isiah 40:8 "the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." i love my husband because he is a gift from my Lord specifically for me, because my God commands me to ("you shall love your neighbor as yourself" Galatians 5:14...my husband is my closest neighbor:), because i desire to glorify God in my marriage & life. so, you ask, do you have the perfect marriage? uh...yeah right. a big good grief NO! of course not. who does? i'm convinced there's no such thing:) we are simply two sinners saved by the grace of God to live for Him during our stay here on this earth. the difference then...our reliance is on the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and His eternal, everlasting word.

happy 6th anniversary, sweetheart...& happy father's day to the best daddy in the whole wide world! i love you.

a blast from the past

2008-06-14T12:07:00.003-04:00

uh...goo-goo ga-ga...that's what my vocabulary has come to since emmit has been born. i know all you mommies out there can agree heartily to that one! here's a shining example of my mooshy brains capacity to communicate...when my sisters & i were little girls we affectionately called my mom "mommy" & dad "papa". we still call my dad papa but my mom, on the other hand, we started calling her "mom" the minute we realized that "mommy" sounded a bit babyish (no offense to any kid or adult who calls their mom mommy). i still remember that moment...so awkward. so anyways, i was on the phone the other morning chatting with my mom while also chatting with emmit who was babbling a mile a minute (may the Lord use his gift of gab!). before we said our last goodbye & hung up the phone i blurted out, "bye bye mommy." GOOD GRIEF!!!!! where did that come from!!!??? i'll tell you...from talking with a toddler all day long...that's where. so if i'm even in conversation with you and just by chance call you mommy, papa, baby, honey, monkey, buddy, dude, sweetie, cutie pie, etc, etc...please excuse me, i'm a mommy of an almost 2 year old.

boy, oh boy!

2008-06-13T14:32:00.000-04:00

so...you ask...what has the little guy been up to these days? oh, so very much!

painting...

running...or at least trotting...

growing up way too fast! here he's sporting his new big boy belt:)

making messes...& more messes...& more messes...does it every end?

"reading"...

slurping soup...

& of course, exploring the world with daddy!

2008-06-13T14:11:00.004-04:00

Mighty is the Power of the Cross

What can take a dying man and raise him up to life again?
What can heal a wounded soul?
What can make us white as snow?
What can fill the emptiness?
What can mend our brokenness?
Brokenness

Chorus:
Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the holy cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life
To lift us from the fall
Mighty is the power of the cross

What restores our faith in God?
What reveals the Father's love?
What can lead the wayward home?
What can melt a heart of stone?
What can free the guilty ones
What can save and overcome?
Overcome

(chorus)

It's a miracle to me
and It's still a mystery
It's a miracle to me
The power of God
For those who believe

Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the holy cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life
To lift us from the fall
Mighty is the power of the cross

Chris Tomlin Mighty Is The Power Of The Cross Lyrics
Songwriters: Craig, Shawn; Tomlin, Chris; Reeves, Jesse;

www.jango.com/ml?artist=Chris%20Tomlin&title=Mighty%20Is%20The%20Power
%20Of%20The%20Cross

~copy & paste link into browser to listen~

Alpacas?

2008-06-12T21:54:00.008-04:00

meet the new members of our family:) my mom & her hubby, kelly, adopted 3 alpacas to raise & sell eventually, i'm assuming. the two females are pregnant and are due w/in the next month or so. they also adopted a strapping male:) apparently alpacas are the new & upcoming thing...anyone interested?

my sister, marla, kelly, & my mom took a hiking trip to Moab about a month ago. here are a few pics of them at the Delicate Arch.

long time no blog

2008-06-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

boy, it has been a while since our last post! it sure has been a busy month. emmit has been growing leaps & bounds! his ability to grasp concepts sure has taken off too! it's funny to me how he can understand what i say or ask him to do but can barely spit out the words for it. today was a difficult day, probably because we have all been sick, but generally speaking emmit is such a joy to me & i count it a great privilege to spend my time caring for him & teaching him, esp about the things of our great God. if all my son ever grasped was to love, serve, & honor God with all his heart, soul, strength & mind, my time here on this earth with him would be worth every minute.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Best Belgian Waffle Recipe Ever

2008-05-26T18:27:00.004-04:00

LIGHT, CRISP WAFFLES

(not my waffle pic. mine looked even better!)

INGREDIENTS

* 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (don't use wheat flour)
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 3/4 cup buttermilk
* 1/4 cup milk
* 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 egg white
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Preheat your waffle iron.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Combine the milk, buttermilk and oil in a measuring cup. Whisk in the egg yolk with a fork, and set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg white with an electric mixer until almost soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, while continuing to whip until thick and glossy. Stir in vanilla.
3. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, and whisk just until blended. Fold in the egg white using a spatula.
4. Pour batter onto the hot waffle iron in the recommended amount for your iron. My waffle iron takes a generous 1/2 cup. Close the iron, and cook until golden brown. A good indication that it is getting close is that the steam will stop coming out of the iron. Keep finished waffles in the warm oven directly on the rack. Do not stack, or they will become soggy.

mitch got me a waffle maker for our anniversary (amongst other wonderful things...and he didn't do it just so i would make him waffles. i have been saying lately, "if i had a waffle maker" or "when i get a waffle maker" or "i'm scanning the thrift stores for a waffle maker"...guess he got tired of my antics:). anyhow, i absolutely love it! in my search for the perfect light and crispy waffle recipe i can across this one this morning. it makes the best belgian waffles EVER...really...unless you're my mom and use whole wheat flour and live at a completely different altitude than we do here in good 'ole detroit.

The Scott Family

2008-05-15T14:38:00.006-04:00

This is my wonderful family from Virginia Beach, VA & Boise, ID. We were all reunited at our grandmother's funeral back in February. It had been about 10 years since we last talked!

me and my mom

2008-05-12T21:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-12T16:51:00.002-04:00

I am a mommy

2008-05-09T14:25:00.005-04:00

Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals.
I had unstained clothing.
I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted.
And never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies.

Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers.
Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much......
......before I was a Mom.

...Author Unknown

my son

2008-05-09T14:16:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the little child asked God:

"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God answered him "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

"But tell me," asked the child, "here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."

"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy." God reassured him.

"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?"

"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you, Lord?"
"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
"Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly

"Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will call your angel, Mother"

Author unknown

A Boy Is
Between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood we find a delightful creature called a boy. Boys come in assorted sizes, weights and colors, but all boys are the same. Boys are found everywhere ... on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to.

Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older brothers and sisters tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them.

A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.

When you want him to make a good impression, his brain turns to jelly, or else he becomes a savage, sadistic jungle creature bent on destroying the world.

A boy is a composite ... he has the appetite of a horse, the digestion of a sword swallower, the energy of an atom bomb, the curiosity of a cat, the lungs of a dictator, the shyness of a violet and when he makes something, he has five thumbs on each hand.

A boy is a magical creature ... you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can't lock him out of your heart. Might as well give up ... he is your captor, your jailer, your boss and your master ... a freckled face, pint size, cat chasing bundle of noise.

But when you come home at night with only the shattered pieces of your hopes and dreams, he can mend them like new with the two magic words, "HI, DAD!"

...Author Unknown

we've all been there & done that!

2008-05-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

i just got this as a forward from my aunt & had to put this one up on emmit's blog. i know i'm guilty of the below, but hey...i'm gonna really try to make improvements this summer. just don't go looking at my feet.

Spring is here......that time of year again
My yearly public service announcement…………

Alright ladies, it's that time of year once again!!! I think we need to be reminded of a few things. So my sisters, PLEASE, raise your big toes and repeat after me below...

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge
As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow. I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.

I will try to go to my local nail salon at least once per season and have a real pedicure (they are about $25 or $30 and worth EVERY penny).

I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone

2008-05-07T19:28:00.001-04:00

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

2008-05-03T17:10:00.000-04:00

just havin' fun with the dog

2008-05-01T14:54:00.000-04:00

yesterday emmit was getting the biggest kick out of throwing all sorts of things over the baby gate at the dog. it stopped when he reached for the pots & pans!

ooooo...matchbox cars!

2008-05-01T14:46:00.000-04:00

we've been saving a box of matchbox cars from back in the 70s that mitch found in on e of the houses he cleaned out. apparently emmit really, really likes them! he didn't even have to be shown how to drive them all over the bookshelves, furniture, windowsills, etc...he is definitely ALL boy!

makin' waves

2008-04-30T16:52:00.000-04:00

i did a #1 in the potty today!!!

i had a doctor's appointment yesterday. they said i was 33 1/4" tall & 24 lbs! i'm a groing boy...more up than out:) i also got 2 shots & a sucker. it was my very first one!

this is the 2nd sucker i've ever had in my life. got it from daddy that same day!!!

under construction

2008-04-29T21:24:00.000-04:00

sorry for the confusion folks! our family blog is under construction. check out emmit's very own blog at www.emmitslife.blogspot.com. that site is our old one just with a different name:)

greetings from michigan

2008-04-25T16:26:00.000-04:00

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

gramma, uncle joey and i are having such a great time this week. today we went to a huge garage sale and uncle joey helped my mommy find me lots of great books and clothes. after that we went to the coolest park! it had a huge wooden castle that we played on for a long time. we had to go home after uncle joey hurt his foot. i really hope we get to go back with daddy sunday afternoon. tuesday and thursday uncle joey, mommy and i cleaned the ENTIRE back yard! what a job, but the sun was out the whole time! i had so much fun helping pick up sticks and finding treasures in the grass.

thank you sooooo much for going swimming with me on friday. i had soooo much fun with you! i wish we could all see you guys more. can't wait to see you and gram this monday. maybe we can go out for ice cream!

And so it begins...

2008-04-25T15:56:00.000-04:00

I decided to start potty training Emmit this week. He's 18 months now & it sure does seem that he knows what he's doing when he does "it". Yesterday he did a #2 on the potty:) I was thrilled & a bit surprised that he did it after only the second time sitting on the pot. Well, today was quite the different story. Since Mitch missed Emmit's great milestone yesterday morning & since he was still home this morning after Emmit ate breakfast I asked him if he wanted to hang around to experience Emmit's, well, you know, poo-pooing (I know, kind of gross, but only a parent could understand:). So, after Emmit sat there for about 5 minutes brushing his teeth & goofing off he wanted to get off. I helped him off of let him run around bare bottomed so I could run to the next room & get a diaper. The next thing I heard was "CARISSA!!!" I looked around the corned & found Emmit standing there doing a #1 & a #2 right on the floor!!! Needless to say, Mitch DID get to experience this great milestone of Emmit's, in a round about sort of really gross way. I thought it was absolutely hilarious, even though I had to clean it up.

Day #1

Day #3 I think he's regressed a bit, don't you?

Silly, Silly Boy

2008-04-25T15:46:00.000-04:00

pssssst...click on the sound icon in the bottom left corner.

my daddy, my pal

2008-04-21T01:20:00.000-04:00

psssst...click on the sound icon in the bottom left corner.

Who's playing with who?

2008-04-05T16:49:00.000-04:00

Hmmmmmmm...

2008-04-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

...apple or orange?

Curious George

2008-04-05T16:42:00.000-04:00

Anything Mitch(Daddy)is doing Emmit wants to be a part of it, somehow, someway. He definitely is a Daddy's boy.

Here's another one:)

2008-03-28T17:30:00.000-04:00

BOO!

2008-03-27T21:57:00.000-04:00

Had to put this pic in here b/c it is just too funny:)

I used to think that Emmit looked like a turtle when he was a baby...any resemblance?

Poor Puppy

2008-03-25T14:03:00.000-04:00

Poor Mickey had surgery on his leg a few weeks back. The doctor took out quite a large benign fatty tumor. Emmit got quite a kick out of Mickey's temporary head gear!

Cruisin' for a bruisin'

2008-03-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

I read recently on a money saving web site that if you're going grocery shopping...do NOT bring the hubby...you'll end up spending 15% more money. After a long day Saturday of preparing our house to be shown (it's up for sale) that evening, Mitch & I decided to do the grocer shopping together as a family. I warned him of my above finding but he reassured me that we'd stick to the list. Well, needless to say, we pulled into our driveway with a new Radio Flyer bike, toy cell phone, & two bath toys. I think that was way over the 15% mark!

Emmit is a sly little boy! Mitch heard him giggling in his room Sunday afternoon. He goes in to see what he's up to & finds him sitting in his chair reading a book. So we've got a climber on our hands now, and much more than just his rocking chair!

Just had to put this one in:) Emmit's growing like a weed...and getting cuter everyday!

2008-02-29T17:05:00.000-05:00

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

2008-02-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been snowing here quite a bit lately. Just when we think it's done, we get another foot (at least it seems to be that much). As much as I LOVE to stay home & raise the Little Guy, cabin fever does set in around this time of year. Fortunately, Emmit & I have found plenty of fun things to do to keep us busy while stuck indoors. So, you ask, what do you do on snow days?...

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

And around, around, around, around.............................

2008-02-03T09:13:00.000-05:00

The video will speak for itself :)

Engineer, Architect, or Just Plain Genius?

2008-01-31T16:59:00.000-05:00

...none of the above...it was all Mommy's doing (except for the boat). But she sure does like to make him look like he is:)

Emmit's first snow experience...almost

2008-01-31T16:54:00.000-05:00

Well, we finally got Emmit out in the snow...and he just thought it was the strangest stuff. He shuffled his feet (he shuffles when he's excited:)& played with a snowball that Mitch made for him. This pic was taken from our dining room window (hence the blurry look...dirty windows). I couldn't help but let Emmit walk around in the snow a bit after grocery shopping a few weeks ago, but I just hate to not have Mitch around to see these special little events in Em's life.

in, over, around, & through

2008-01-29T16:53:00.000-05:00

The New Rave

2008-01-23T22:05:00.000-05:00

I hate to have you all view this video sideways but it's just so cute! Grandma Mary & Grandpa Kel thought that Emmit needed a boo-boo present. It is the new rave in the Davidson household. Emmit is about to wear a hole in the floor the way he pushes that little car back & forth & back & forth. I love it!!!

Momma's Little Helper

2008-01-23T21:53:00.000-05:00

To my absolute amazement Emmit has actually began putting things away from where he got them. Not when I tell him to, of course. He's not that far in his understanding just yet...at least that's what it seams:) But I've noticed that instead of leaving an absolute mess in the kitchen every afternoon with all the Tupperware, pot & pans, lids, & other misc. cooking items, they are all put back where they belong...with an occasional stuffed animal or two. Mr. Rhino is usually the lucky one to be found in the kitchen cabinet, bathtub, behind the couch, etc, etc. Everywhere Emmit goes, Mr. Rhino goes. Anyhow, in the video Emmit discovered the ziplock bags I had stashed with the Tupperware. But, like the good & helpful kid he is (wonder who he got that from?) he takes all the bags out & tried to put them all back where he found them.

He's also discovered that toilet paper tastes pretty good, that the toilet lid opens & it's really, really fun to throw mommy's things in it, that certain shapes fit in certain holes (& if they don't he'll find a way to make them!)...the kid is growing leaps & bounds!!! He's even trying to say words!

Emmit's Reaching New Heights!

2008-01-23T21:48:00.000-05:00

It's amazing to watch Emmit grow...in inches, that is. I can tell how much he's grown by what he is able to reach, look over, or out of. He often looks out of our dining room window during the day with the hopes that Daddy might be in the driveway. Mickey usually gets in with the action too!

In the Midst of the Storm

2008-01-22T16:51:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so I have heard about many difficult trials that my friends & family, & their friends & families, have gone through or are currently experiencing. My heart it heavy for all of you. May I say that there is great hope and comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ!

My Anchor Holds

Though the angry surges roll on my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know, wildly though the winds may blow
I've an anchor safe and sure, that can evermore endure.
Mighty tides about me sweep, perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds over shade the sky, and tempest rises high,
Still I stand the tempest's shock, for my anchor grips the Rock
I can feel the anchor fast as I meet each sudden blast,
and the cable, though unseen, bears the heavy strain between
through the storm I safely ride, till the turning of the tide.
Troubles almost overwhelm the soul; griefs like billows over me roll
Tempters seek to lure astray, storms obscure the light of day,
but in Christ I can behold, I've an anchor that shall hold

...it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner before us... Hebrews 6:18-20

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ... 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Jacob

2008-01-16T10:28:00.000-05:00

This little boy's name is Jacob. He is 19 months & has a twin brother named James. On Christmas day he drank lamp oil & ended up in an ICU in Michigan. He has been attached to a ECOM (heart lung machine that oxygenates a persons blood b/c their lungs can't) since that time. Today the doctors told Jacob's mom that he in brain dead. They family made the decision to take him off the ECOM & let the Lord take Little Jacob take him home to be with Him. Please pray for this family today! Mitch works with Jacob's older sister & her husband. We will be attending the funeral sometime this week.

May I suggest something that may help all of children to be a bit more safe? About a week ago Emmit got in to some Mr. Clean. I heard something splash & found Emmit in a puddle of the stuff. Praise the Lord that he was sucking on his pacifier! Needless to say, my heart stopped when I saw the scene. From what I gathered he didn't drink any of it but he did get a full body rash that lasted for 2-3 days (may have been the Mr. Clean or the spinach I gave him that night...not sure which) That day I threw away & gave away all the toxic cleaning products I had in our house. I never ever want to have to face what Jacob's mom is presently facing & anything I can do to help prevent that I'm going to do. My mom gave me a book for Christmas called, "Clean House, Clean Planet: Clean Your House for Pennies a Day the Safe, Nontoxic Way." The author talks about the dangers of the cleaning products in our home, the harm they cause/can cause to a person/child physically, & many, many natural cleaning recipes to replace them. It has taken me a few weeks or so to get all the materials & ingredients but I have found it to be very cost effective, safe, & workable. I hate to sound like a commercial (I'm not getting paid to say ANY of this...I promise!) but out of compassion for my little boy & every other little kid of any mom who may read this. My mom has told me stories of what my sisters & I used to do & get into. Please, please lock up your chemicals, put them totally out of reach or get rid of them. Again, I say this out of love & concern.

The link to Jacob's story: http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=JacobCooper&seed=242366&ClusterNodeID=jb03&tlcx1=devos&tlcx2=2955514

Carissa

Our First Trip to the ER

2008-01-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

I'm sad to say that today was our first visit to the ER with Emmit. He attempted to take a step down our stairs by the kitchen, with the good intention to help me with the laundry basket. I did manage to catch him but he hit his head pretty good on the corner of a small shelf to the left of the stairs. I thought all was well until I saw blood pouring from just above his right eye. I ran all over the house looking for my phone & forgot that I had placed it on the shelf right where Emmit hit his poor head! Just as I was about to dial the phone to call Mitch I heard him open the front door. Praise the Lord for His perfect timing!!! We bandaged his boo-boo, packed up his diaper bag & drove our bloodied boy over to the Oakwood ER. Emmit handled the pain, bandage, no nap time & lack of food & water remarkably well. I think he was more intent on watching all the people around him. The doctor was super nice. She gave Emmit about 6-7 stitches. The paramedic that held Emmit down was a saint, if that's possible for health care professionals. He didn't let Emmit move his head one inch. By the time he let go Emmit's hair was soaked with sweat. Poor kid had a bit of a rough time. I was for sure he'd either fall asleep in the car on the way home or at least crash when we did get home, but he ended up playing, having a snack, & playing some more....he's asleep right now...whew! Didn't know how hard it would be seeing my little one bleeding & in pain.

This incident reminded me of the great love & care God shows towards them that put their faith in Him.
"He heals the brokenhearted & binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

The Joys of Motherhood

2008-01-10T16:08:00.000-05:00

Before I was a Mom -
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

In loving memory...

2008-01-08T16:37:00.000-05:00

...of Mike McCaskill. I love you Lor Lor!!!

2008-01-02T11:20:00.000-05:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Why do you celebrate Christmas?

2007-12-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

"Joy Has Dawned upon the World"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2004 Thankyou Music

Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God's salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev'ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother's breast,
Vuln'rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way,
And by His blood He'll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst'ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist'ry.

A Lifetime of Memories Packed Away for Another Year

2007-12-27T22:02:00.000-05:00

Thirty-seven times I’ve packed up this decor, these lights and holiday baubles. And I’m glad the people in my family don’t insist on helping because for me this is like taking a trip through years of memories. Besides, I know how everything should be put away. It must be the same as last year and the year before and the year before that. Any other way just wouldn’t be right.

There’s not one thing in all of these boxes that doesn’t symbolize an event in our marriage, a season in our family’s life or a small boy’s best work.

As each adornment comes to rest in its pre-appointed position, a wonderful thing happens. I start to relive the past years through the collective memories of past holiday seasons. There’s something about chubby faces framed by Mason jar lids and macaroni angels that bring the tears and wash the soul.

I’m immersed in the wonder that I’ve been given another year to know my boys and my husband. I recall with amazing acuity the seasons through which we’ve traveled. With 20/20 vision I see how things did work together—those situations we questioned did happen for a reason. Trials did bring triumphs and little boys did become good men.

I force myself to pause momentarily and remember the failures and mistakes. They have a way of keeping everything in perspective. I can’t help but reflect on the events of this season. The traditions we repeat year after year are what bring a sense of security and warmth in the midst of our hectic and fragmented lives.

The stabilizing effect of holiday traditions has carried us through difficult times. When there was little money to buy gifts, our unchanging traditions diverted our attention from what we didn’t have to what we did.

It never ceases to amaze me that hardly any of us can recall the gifts we received as recently as last year. But we remember exactly what we did, who came to visit and everything that contributed to the warmth and wonder of the season.

As I put everything away (solo, of course) I think about how quickly time passes and how soon I’ll be unpacking again. I daydream about what might happen in the next all-too-short twelve months. I wonder what possible challenges or dramatic changes we’ll face in the coming year. Our lives could be altered drastically by the time I open these boxes again.

So with the joy of the season past still lingering and the promise of the year to come beckoning, I cram the last box into its spot and slide the door closed, hoping everything won’t melt during the summer heat. I haul out the vacuum and replace the furniture exactly as it was before.

Written by Mary Hunt

Emmit's new boots

2007-12-17T14:24:00.000-05:00

When Emmit & I were in Ohio last week my mom bought him a pair of new boots. Emmit absolutely loves them! After I put them on his feet for the first time the other day he just giggled, looked at his feet constantly and stomped all around the house.

All toasty & warm

2007-12-17T14:18:00.000-05:00

I love these two!!! Not sure what I would do without them. They keep me busy, happy, laughing, warm, loved, etc., etc......

Puppy?

2007-12-17T14:14:00.000-05:00

I'm tempted to buy a little dog cage for Emmit.

Rub-a-dub-dub Mr. Rhino's in the tub!!!

2007-12-14T16:38:00.000-05:00

Kids really do do the funniest things...many of which, unfortunately, are too inappropriate for this blog:) I can't tell the whole story of this picture, but to make a long story very short...Emmit ended up climbing into the bath tub the other day, fully clothed & he dragged Mr. Rhino with him. They both got absolutely soaked! Mr. Rhino needed a bath anyways but I would've preferred it to be in the washing machine.

Emmit just turned 14 months Saturday. He's got 7 teeth now. Figured out that his refusal to eat hasn't been my cooking (my husband would argue against that) but teething. I can't believe how much he's changed since his 1st birthday. It seems as though he's doing something new everyday! He started babbling a few weeks ago, right out of the blue. Mitch has been teaching him to run (it's a riot to watch) which has made my days quite busy...THANKS HONEY. Emmit also started walking backwards. He's quite the character. I'll try to get a few more videos on this thing. The problem is I only have 2 hands. He's an accident waiting to happen. I think he had about 4-5 bruises on his face/head by the time we got home from our trip to Ohio.

Well, here's a video of the Little Guy wandering around in the kitchen with a wisk. He loves kitchen utensils. We play this game, "I'm gonna get you", all the time. He thinks it's hilarious:) Notice how fast he's getting!

Mommy & Emmit on the road...again.

2007-12-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

My mom came to visit last Thursday and left this past Tues :( We had such a great time together! My grandparents, the Pavis', celebrated there 60th wedding anniversary recently. The family got together from all over for a special celebration dinner Saturday night. HAPPY 60TH ANNIVERSARY GRANDMA & GRANDPA PAVIS!!! It was so nice to see everybody again.

My sister Jessica, her hubby Keith, & kids Seircia & Oliver all got to stay with us in a hotel suite for the weekend. It was such a nice place! It had a fully furnished kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room & dining room, not to mention 3 televisions. The breakfasts were awesome! I'm afraid Emmit got a bit spoiled eating muffins, french toast, belgian waffles, eggs, etc, etc every morning:)

What a nice break in the midst of the BUSY holiday season! Well, as much of a break as you can have with a 1 year old:)

Yummy....blueberries!

2007-12-13T16:33:00.000-05:00

Like mommy like son...unfortunately

2007-11-30T15:16:00.000-05:00

My girlfriend Jessica posted on her blog about a month ago how she found her 17 mo old son eating their dogs dog food. I commented that I used to eat dog bones when I was a kid (not even a toddler...I was old enough to know better!) & I turned out ok. A few days ago Emmit pushes open the bathroom door...and what did he have in his hand? Mickey's dentabone!!! And he was even chewing a piece of it in his mouth...uuuhhhggg! I have no earthly idea why in the world the child liked the thing (found him chewing on it just a short while before that). If it tasted anything like it smelled...yuk! Not that I tasted it or anything...honestly!

Hello again:)

2007-11-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

Grama Mary, Grampa Kelly & Emmit. Thank you for letting us stay with you!!!

Emmit at the petting zoo.

Emmit & Zoe getting into the toy stash. Partners in crime.

Emmit's flight home. Good 'ole Benadryl!

Boy, has it ever been along time since my last posting!!! Life, as it is for everyone, has been busy. The calendar always seems to fill up so quickly. Mitch & my mom surprised me with a trip out to Utah to visit her and my step-dad, Kelly. Emmit & I were there for 1 week near the beginning of November. What a blessing it was to spend time with mom & Kel!!! Emmit had a GREAT time with their two dogs Sierra & Zoe. Mom & I were under the weather for most of the time & Emmit had some bowel issues. I would never recommend changing a baby's diaper in an airplane bathroom (or should I say closet). His bottom started to heal up after I began using the hand cream I brought...yes, hand cream. Aquaphor. A must in every baby's diaper drawer. The stuff was a jar full of blessing! Here are a few pics from the week:

2007-10-13T14:40:00.000-04:00

Slide shows, scrapbooks, photo ecards, and more

FYI: Once you click on the "play" arrow a new screen will appear. In order to turn the pages click on the little arrow at the bottom right corner of each new page:)

He's One!

2007-10-12T15:21:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful day we all had together as a family! While Mitch was at work for the morning Emmit got his second haircut. He looked so handsome after I gelled it...just like his Daddy. Mitch's mom, grandma, & brother came to town for the day to help us celebrate. That afternoon we went to Elizabeth Park in Trenton, MI. It was such a gorgeous, perfect day! On the way there we stopped to pick up a birthday cheesecake, complements of Jill:) On the way home we stopped at Pizzeria Uno's for some good eats to bring with us. Emmit had only a very small slice of cheesecake & seemed to enjoy it, but he was so tired from the busy day. He had a great time opening his presents. It's funny how toddlers are so much more enamored with the packaging than with the actual gift itself. I must say that he really loved his new pig Wilbur. We couldn't have asked for a better, more memorable day! I still can't believe we have a toddler.

This little piggy...

2007-10-06T20:34:00.000-04:00

Emmit's New Discovery

2007-10-06T20:26:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the lighting...bright day:) Emmit has discovered that his highchair moves. The minute I put him on the kitchen floor he's off to see where he can get his highchair to roll to next. This video was taken a few day ago, you should see him now...he's quite the expert in highchair rolling.

The rest of the story...

2007-10-06T20:02:00.000-04:00

...ok, here are the other 2 stories I promised (that kid is sure keeping me busy, teething or something or other...whew!). You know when you're canoing & get to the point where you're just totally pooped? You think to yourself, "Boy, I sure hope this trip is over really soon. I mean, it's great & all. All this water, all these trees, all this water..." You look at your map & see that you've only made it 1/2 way which took you, well, FOREVER!!! I really enjoyed the trip, really. Well, needless to say, we got out in a low potion of the river (really low... the ducks were even walking around, laughing at us humans, mind you) to haul our kayak over a dead end area to the other side when we decided to walk around in the water for a bit. Mitch loves to throw rocks, specifically at me, so there he goes....The next thing you know he picks up a giant rock covered in mini clam shells. Very odd looking. What was so funny about it was that all those little shells were inhabited be something or others. I think they may have been trying to make a "squirt" for it because they were soaking Mitch's shorts. Maybe it was there defense mechanism. Don't know. All I know is that it was pretty strange looking.

#3 Before we actually haul our kayak over to the other side Mitch looks down into the water & shouts, "Look, a dead fish!" Joy of all joys. A dead fish decomposing in the water where I was just soaking my feet. It was inside a small, hollowed out log so of course he has to move it just a bit. And what else did he discover...a GIANT crayfish. I'm not much of a crustation person, I can't even spell the word for Pete's sake. So, of course, Mitch had to pick up the small, hollowed out log & dump the poor thing on the ground right in front of me. It reminded me why I don't eat anything with more than 4 legs. I gotta stop or I'm gonna hurl....

Yes...I'm 30

2007-10-02T20:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I turned 30 this past Saturday...thank you all for the cards & emails:) To tell you the truth I think this whole "30 Club" thing is great! I finally feel as though I've passed through the threshold into adulthood. This year Mitch took me kayaking on the Huron River in Ann Arbor, MI. We had such a great time together. As a side note...has anyone else noted that canoing increases the probability of a couple getting in an argument (FYI: Mitch & I did not get in a fight, just in case you were wondering...we never fight). Every couple we saw paddling down the river was bickering about one thing or another, no joke! OK, back to my story...about the picture at the top. No, I didn't take it. Got it off the web. Unfortunately we didn't take our camera b/c of the risk of dropping it in the river. We've done it before & chances are we'd do it again. To take a picture of what actually happened would've put our lives at risk. Here we are paddling down the river when Mitch says, "Hey look! A beaver!" Something was swimming right into our path. It kind of looked like a beaver. The closer we got to it & it to us we realized it was a bit smaller than a beaver. I suggested "an otter?". The closer we got to it & it to us, right next to our kayak as a matter of fact, the more I realized that it's head was awfully small, even for an otter. I screamed, "It's a squirrel!!!!" I thought it was going to swim around us but it tried to jump right up into our laps! Oars were flying everywhere. Mitch even tried to whack it back into the water but it got a pretty good grasp on his oar. The nest thing you know the little guy is on the other side of our kayak swimming away as if nothing ever happened. We could've gotten rabies, you know.

Got 2 more stories to tell you about but Mitch is bugging me to get off the computer so........that's all for now:)

Birthday Boy

2007-09-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

Today is Mitch's 28th birthday...I know, old man!

When Mommy's Not Home...

2007-09-25T16:49:00.000-04:00

So is this what happens when I'm not home to supervise the guys? Emmit gets his first black eye & breaks his first dish. Hmmm...well...he did get his first bloody lip on my watch. I guess we're even.

Emmit's 10th Month

2007-09-19T19:26:00.000-04:00

SIlly Guys

2007-09-10T22:46:00.000-04:00

Apparently Emmit likes to be toted around in baskets. Mitch & Emmit have such a great time together when he comes home after a hard, stressful day at work. Emmit is definitely Mitch's valve release. When I'm in the kitchen making dinner I hear lots & lots of squeals, giggles, & shrieks coming up from the basement. My girlfriend Amy commented to me a while back that her favorite sound is that of her children's voices. I can definitely ditto that!!! I LOVE to hear my love & my baby having fun together. It makes slaving over a hot stove more enjoyable:)

Emmit's First Haircut

2007-09-10T15:47:00.000-04:00

Before...(Actually this was the night before the after picture. Emmit got a bit spooked by Mitch's electric trimmers.)

This is what happened when Mitch decided to use his electric trimmers in Emmit's hair!

After:)

Momma & Baby

2007-09-05T17:09:00.000-04:00

This one's for you Grandma Jill!

Just Another Road Trip

2007-09-05T14:40:00.000-04:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Our First Game

2007-08-29T16:04:00.000-04:00

Emmit has started crawling around the house, with supervision, of course. He got such a kick out of me crawling after him I just had to get a clip of it to share with you all. His giggles make me smile...hope it makes someone else out there smile too!
Please forgive the lighting quality:)

Emmit's 9th Month

2007-08-27T16:13:00.000-04:00

Wow!!! The months are just flying by! So very sorry for the lack posts. It has been a very busy summer. We put our house up for sale this month(& everything that goes along with it: painting, purging, & packing & purging...did I mention purging?) So here we are...empty house, big dog, a crazy baby, waiting to see what the Lord has in store for us next.

Emmit's 9th month was something! At the beginning of the month Emmit & I traveled to Ohio to visit his new cousin Baby Oliver. He was born June 24th. He was 8lbs (or so) & 19" long...at 3 weeks he was 14 lbs:) We got to visit with Grandma Mary & her hubby Kelly, Great-grandma & Grandpa Pavis & Great-grandpa & Nanee Scott. While we were there Emmit began to attempt standing with no hands...he's such a daredevil! Mitch traveled to Chicago the weekend after we got home from Ohio. He was only gone for a day & 1/2 but he said Emmit was a totally different child when he got home than he was before he left. The boy is constantly changing!!! Near the end of the month we got the first floor & basement in our house painted. That was fun...uh, not really. Emmit & I got to know the 2nd floor of our house all to well.

Here are some other things the little guy figured out: seemed to love falling over on purpose, bouncing while standing, tried to move from one large object to another while standing (Mitch is the "large object" for those of you who were wondering if I had gained weight...shame on you!), bathing in the big tub (quite the adventure), went to his 1st speed boat racing show with Daddy during one of their Saturday's out, went through a spell of not wanting to be rocked or even held for that matter before bedtime, banging back of head in the wall while sitting (sure hope that's not a sigh of things to come!), 1st bloody lip (on my watch, unfortunately...I think he also got his first bruise too), enjoys making hacking sounds and screaming VERY loudly, he graduated out of the baby nursery at church, he stood for 5 seconds (I think Mitch claims 30+ :), dragging toys while crawling, got his top left tooth in, & last but not least to start off his 10th month Emmit got immunized on a Tuesday and had a fever Wednesday at the babysitters while Mommy was at work. Poor kid, his 10th month has been a bear. But, he's a trooper, or maybe I should say 1/2 Scott, 1/2 Davidson.

I Love My Dad!

2007-08-06T22:05:00.000-04:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Emmit's 8th Month

2007-07-26T22:05:00.000-04:00