Hot, Hot, Hot!

It has been HOT, HOT, HOT in Charlotte!

This is how we deal...

That's right...he is naked. (He being Luke,  not Dan) :)

That is a cute naked bum!

Luke LOVES the water. He slaps at it and then looks up at us in surprise when water gets on his face. Then he does it again. It is a viciously cute cycle!

That smile, those eyes, those cheeks (both sets)...I could eat him up!

Yum!

Stumble Upon...

I have stumbed upon the greastest time waster EVER! Stumble Upon has been my go to for the past few days. Little man is sick so we are stuck without playdates or bible studies! :(

Here are the best crafty websites/blogs that I have come across:

Grace Violet (my favorite so far)

The Purl Bee

Make and Take

Pizzazzerie

Out of Order Design

Handmade Charlotte

I seriously want a sewing machine now! (Don't choke Mom!) :)

At the very least a craft room...? Yeah right!

Here are the best cooking websites/blogs that I have come across:

Baking Obsession

Bakerella

Aggie's Kitchen

Picky Palate

Love and Olive Oil

Our Life in the Kitchen

The Parsley Thief

These websites have inspired me to become a better homemaker!

Enjoy.

Meet Dallas...

Dallas is "Dan's dog". I know, I know, Dallas is both of our dogs. The whole marriage, oneness thing. But, Dallas was Dan's before I met him.

Anyways, Luke is enthralled by Dallas.

Notice the book: Spot Loves His Mommy...:) He sure does!

Luke gets a BIG smile on his face when Dallas comes around.

You may remember this picture...

He wasn't as fond then.

One of the highlights of Luke's day is when/if Dallas stays still long enough for Luke to pet her. Or hit her. Or pull on her fur. We're working on those motor skills!

However nonchalant..I had to google that to make sure I spelled it correctly...Is there such a thing as being chalant...

Back to life, back to reality. However nonchalant Dallas tries to seem around Luke. She secretly thinks that she is his mother.

Maybe I should be jealous.

But look at that sweet face!

Swing, swing...

Dan decided that Luke needed a swing. I think that Dan needed Luke to have a swing! :) Dan is so much more excited about Luke's toys than Luke.

Luke LOVES this toy! Loves, loves, loves this swing. It is our go-to when he is being kinda fussy or antsy.

The heat has been almost unbearable lately! So I can only stand to be out there for about 20 minutes until I turn into a total GROUCH...

It's totally my father's fault! I promise.

This has been one of favorite toy 'investments'.

By investment, I do not mean that this was at all expensive...try about $20. I mean that we are of the mindset that we should borrow as much as possible, as far as baby gadgets go!

We would be broke if we bought everything we have been able to borrow from friends/family! So Thank You friends and family! :)

Looks like naptime!

Swimming!

Luke's first swim was at Nana's pool.

Which is so appropriate! I had countless birthday parties at this pool. Spent many, many summers here...

He loved every minute of it! I can't wait for Luke to be able to have his own memories at Nana and Papa's pool!

We bought him this crab floatie. You know, in honor of Maryland...?

 I'm not quite ready for the whole bathing suit thing, so Dan got in there with him!

Look at that smile! :)

Luke has an awesome dad and I have an amazing husband! We are so incredibly blessed by him!

What better way to finish a fun afternoon!

I hope everyone else is enjoying their summer! We are!

REALITY...

Warning...do not be eating while you read this post!

It is extremely gross...

So why do I post it?

Because, reality isn't always pretty.

The reality of being a mom...

...it isn't all cute! :)

You're welcome!

Luke's Baptism

Little Man was baptized this past weekend!

I realized how truly blessed I am to have the family that I have! As far as our physical families go, we had about 20 + people at church on Sunday morning.

This is the Swiger side of the family...

This is the Emmons side...

The 'gown' that Luke wore was the dress that Nana (my grandmother) made for my baptism 27 years ago!

It was the first gown that she made and I think she ended up making around 14!

I love watching babies be baptized, in general. I especially loved watching mine! It is such an awesome reminder of the family we have in our own church and in the invisible church.

At Uptown, our church, the fathers will write and read a blessing for their child. Dan's was beautiful! When he started to read it, he got choked up. That's a big deal...he didn't even cry at our wedding!!

This is Dan's blessing:

John 12:46-47
46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

Luke,


You nor I, nor anyone here today deserves what you have been given. The Lord your God came not to give you what you deserve. He came to pull you from the darkness by giving the perfect gift; by giving his life for you.
Today we bring you before the covenant family of those who have seen the light and know the hope that Jesus has brought. Although we vow to speak truth into your life, we cannot bring you to the father.
I do believe in the power of the One that loves you so perfectly. I have faith in Our Savior who offers hope and salvation. My desire for you is that you would trust in The God of love who came not to condemn but to save his children. My hope for you Luke, my first born son, is that you would know the greatest blessing you could ever know, you would know Jesus.

We are so grateful to be a part of a church that loves us so well and that loves our child so well! I am also grateful to serve a God that includes children in the covenant blessing.

And I am oh so grateful for our friends and family who came over for lunch to celebrate our little one!

WE LOVE YOU ALL!