Just like Daddy

As I said in the previous post, on Easter morning Clint, Sawyer, and I took a morning stroll...it was delightful! After our walk I took 2 pictures of Clint and Sawyer. In both pictures Clint and Sawyer are making the exact expression, it is so sweet. This was not planned, just goes to show even more that Sawyer is her daddy's girl!!!

Glorious Easter!

Today has been the best Easter ever...it was perfect except we were away from family. It started off with a morning walk, Clint held Sawyer, I held my coffee...it was delightful. The weather up here is perfect! Then I made some more empty tomb biscuits, Sawyer took a nap, and after that we headed to Mark and Elise's (the head church planters) house. We had a Easter worship service, where we read scriptures, sang songs, prayed, and rejoiced in the risen Lord. After that we had an Easter egg hunt, and guess who was the Easter bunny...CLINT! Sawyer loved it!!! She laughed at the Easter bunny (pictures to come of that later). Then we ate a feast and headed home shortly after that. It truly was an Easter I will never forget, and to top it off Sawyer looked absolutely beautiful!!! Her dress was given to her by my aunt Toni, she has fabulous taste and I am so thankful for the way she has spoiled me and now Sawyer.
Here are the pictures:












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Poor Sawyer

Here are some pictures of Sawyers wounds...I know they look bad but she doesn't seem to act like they are bothering her, which is a huge praise!




On a happier note, last weekend Sawyer's Mama Susu and Papa Steve (Clint's mom and step-dad) came up to visit us. We had a wonderful time, it was very relaxing and much needed time with them. I love them so much, I truly could not be better blessed with in-laws! We went to Ikea for the first time...oh my it was wonderful...I better never go in there alone, haha! Here are some pictures are our time with them:






And because I just can't get enough of Sawyer and I am sure you'll can't too:

Empty tomb biscuits

My amazing grandmother gave me this idea, I made it for some friends who came over today. They are empty tomb biscuits. Here's how you make them:

1 can of biscuits
Marshmallows
Butter
Cinnamon
Sugar

Flatten out the biscuits and wrap the biscuits around the marshmallow. Melt the butter. Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Roll the biscuit in the butter, and then roll the biscuit in the cinnamon and sugar. Bake according to the biscuit directions. As they are in the oven the marshmallow melts and the biscuits are empty! They turned out great!

it is a great way to help teach your children about Jesus raising from the dead and why we celebrate Easter! He is risen!!

I think I will make these every Easter morning, Sawyer will love them!

On a side note, as I was checking on the biscuits in the oven, I was holding Sawyer and she reached out and touched the inside of the oven door, my poor baby! She screamed and cried for at least 45 minutes. I held her hand in cold water for awhile and she finally calmed down. She has blisters on her 2 fingers, she seems to be feeling fine now. I felt horrible, I learned my lesson and gave my baby extra lovin today!

Happy Easter!

6 months

Okay so I am really late in doing Sawyers 6 month post, I was waiting for her check-up, but we are not doing it until May. So I will go ahead and do her post and then give her stats in May!

Here is a list of the food she has eaten this month (for those of you who care, haha)

Bananas
Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash
Applesauce
Carrots

This girl loves to eat, it's precious. She will grunt after each bite if you don't put the food fast enough in her month.

Here are some things she started this month:

Started drinking out of a sippy cup- LOVES IT
Starting to eat Gerbers puffs, didn't know what to think at first but now getting the hang of it, still can't get them into her month
Can sit up with the boppy
Can get in the crawling position and rock back and forth

She still nurses every 3 or so hours during the day. Wakes up around 7ish, sometimes earlies, and sometimes a bit later. Gets up at least once a night, either around 1 or 2 OR around 5...I nurse and then put her back to sleep. Goes to bed around 7ish which is great time for mommy and daddy.

She also started to enjoy taking a bath, kicks a ton and has smiled a few times while in the tub. Still not loving the after affects of taking a bath ( lotion, diaper, clothes, but we're working on it)

Loves going on walks, either in the stroller or strapped to mommy or daddy, praying for warmer weather soon.

Still teething BUT no teeth, hoping for one soon.

Sawyer has become my best friend! I love spending everyday with and I know that our relationship is going to continue to grow and grow. I love that she is halfway to a year, looking forward to many more memories to come.

Taking her monthly pictures is getting harder and harder, all she wants to do is eat the paper...here are a couple of shots I got, not very good but oh well!

Thoughts on Thursday

Today's thought is on Colossians 1: 24

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church..."

This relates completely with how I am feeling right now. Moving up here has caused some pain and suffering, BUT ( and this is a big but) I have joy because I know it is all worth it. We have chosen to suffer for Christ's sake and for the church, and because of that we REJOICE and ask that you all rejoice with us!!!

Something to...

make you smile!!

Here are 3 little videos of miss Sawyer Beth.

The first is of her opening her first Easter basket...she was having a ball.



This next one is her just sitting on a chair hanging out before church



And the last is one I took today of her new favorite activity. She gets so excited when I sit her down in front of her animals, it's too cute!




Our church is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt, next Saturday. We are having to throw it together pretty quickly. This has the opportunity to be a huge outreach to our community, it is the only one in the area. Please pray for great weather and a great turnout! So far some of our neighbors are coming, which is so exciting!

Until next time,

Alex

Gi and Gigi visit

Well this past weekend my mom, grandmother, and sister came to visit. We had a great time, it took Sawyer just a little bit to warm up to them, but once she did she was loving their attention! I am so blessed to have my mom and grandmother in my life. They do so much for me, sometimes a little too much but I know they are doing it out of love =D

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Sawyer is really looking forward to Easter





Sawyer went to the beach for the first time..Atlantic City, NJ..it was a little chilly but worth it! Hopefully this summer we can take a family trip to the Jersey Shore!





Here are some other pictures, Sawyer is becoming such a little sweetie pie...I think I could kiss her all day






This week is her 6 month checkup, once we have that I'll do her 6 month post. Looking forward to warmer weather this week...and Mama Susu and Papa Steve are coming on Thursday and we are so0o0o0o0o excited!!!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Steven!!

Happy Birthday Steven!

He says I picked on him when he was little. Well, this one is filled with a little extra love to make up for it! Happy Birthday man! Come visit soon!

Love

The Casabellas

Happy Birthday Aunt Amy!!

Amy, my sister-in-law, is one of the most amazing women I have ever met! I miss her so0o0o0o much, but she is trusting the Lord and thankful that we are following his leadership. Let me just tell you a few things I love about Amy:

-She is a wonderful friend, very thoughtful and is there for you whenever you need it. I value her friendship so much and don't know what I would do without her in my life.
-Watching her mother her sweet boy Ezekiel is beautiful. She loves that little boy so much and would do anything for him. I am so excited to see her grow in being a mother as Ezekiel grows up.
-Her passion for the Lord is so inspiring. She has a desire to know God and make him known all around the world. She is so encouraging and really lives up to the scripture, "iron sharpers iron"
-She is a wonderful wife to Clint's brother, Chad. Amy and I have the best talks about being wives and she is constantly speaking truth into my life about being a wife.

Amy...here is a little video Sawyer wanted to make for you. We hope you enjoy it and may it brighten your day. We wish we could give you a birthday hug, but we'll see you soon enough!!!




Love, Sawyer and Alex

Ministry to Children

This week my mom, grandmother, and sister are here, so we have been super busy. Today we are suppose to go to Atlantic City, NJ where my grandmother lived with my grandfather when he was in the Navy...my mom was born in PHilly! I will take pictures and post them soon!

On another note...Clint and I are trying to put some things together for the children that are a part of Trinity ( our church). As of right now we just meet on Wednesday nights so we just want to have a little structure to the time the kids spend while the adults are meeting. I found this great website packed with wonderful children games, activities, stories...and my favorite coloring pages! I was looking, and looking for coloring pages that were relevant and went along with scripture...well I found them at this website!!! Here is the address: http://ministry-to-children.com/

We are doing really good, looking forward to the warmer weather that is suppose to be here this weekend! I'll post pictures and a video soon!

Blessings,

Alex

Neat idea

So I love being organized but I have come to grasps with the fact that it does not come naturally to me. I am always looking for ways to help me become more organized...well I found a blog, from one of my friends blogs, where a woman makes these little index card holders for you to either use for recipes, memorizing bible verses etc...She designed one to help kids memorize scriptures, I bought one for our friends little boy up here. I think this is a great idea, it's cute and helps you keep track of what bible verses you are teaching your kids. Here is a picture to give you an idea of what I am talking about:



Here is her website for those who are interested:

outoftheheart.myshopify.com/pages/welcome

I think they are reasonably priced and it's free shipping! Just wanted to share this neat little idea that I found today.

Hope everyone is having a great Friday, it was snowing here this morning...YUCK!

Blessings, Alex

Our talented daughter

Here are two videos. One is of Sawyer giggling some more, too cute! The other is of her playing the piano, lets just hope she takes after her grandmother and great-grandmother, and not her mommy...haha!




Today marks our one month of being up here. I had a sad moment last night, thinking of our family and friends who feel so far away. But I am reminded that we are doing all of this for Christ, and it is all worth it!