a little life update

I know its been so long since my past post, life has had so much to it, blogging just never felt right, or we were busy, and so much more.  A lot has happened in the past few months that have me really thinking about the WWW and how i choose to use it.

 I've taken a lot more of how facebook, and other social networks have a positive side as well as a negative and so far i haven't had too many negative.  These past few weeks I've started to see the negative side the this new age way of communication in the world.  I have a few friends that have gone through some pretty rough stuff in the past month, and it has really made me stop to think about the way i want to use facebook for communication.  I don't want it to replace face to face contact, a phone call or even a card to express my feelings about their situations.  I know everyone has their own views on what is appropriate to do on facebook, post for people to see and so on, but i have found for me personally its become a struggle.  I have been so blessed by God recently that i could celebrate and post about, but the fear of "who might see this", "who might take this the wrong way" has crept into my head.  I've taken a break from blogging, facebooking and everything else for awhile during this time and it has really changed how I want to be seen as a person. 

Although i don't have all the answers i finally feel okay in my own heart to post about how God has blessed my life, but also pray for the people that may be going through hard times.  I've learned not to put so much value in the facebook fads and who wants to be friend or doesn't.  If i stay true to who i am, follow what i feel led to do then i shouldn't have any reason to feel guilty.  :)

A quick  update on teh stuff we've been up to in the Switzer household...

- we had an awesome family vacation in Vermont

- Northgate South campus is coming along, while the time is coming closer and closer God has continued to show His hands in the whole thing.  It's been awesome to be apart of something like this.

- We had an unplanned ultrasound to make sure everything was going okay after a few mini concerns, and while we learned that everything is going great and our baby is healthy and quite the mover we also found out...

we are so excited our little girl will join our family, i swear people hear you're having a girl and clothes start coming out of the woodwork.  We have already been so blessed by people's generous boxes of clothes!

- this isn't "good news" per say but news just the same, our little boy found himself in his first cast, we hope it doesn't have to stay on long but it reminds me of just how 'boy' he is.

He's been such a trooper, and the cast hasn't slowed him down a bit!

- Lastly we were so blessed by my aunt for taking be able to take Aiden's 2 year pictures finally!! (thank God it was before the cast went on ;-) )  here's a little preview of a few of my favs!

These prob. deserve a blog of their own but for now here are a few of my favs!

three years

We've been on our first family vacation together this week and we've had such a great time together.  While we were on vacation Brandon and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary.  Since we focused more on family time I decided to not blog or anything on vacation, so its a little late, but never the less special and memorable in my mind! 

Happy 3 years to my awesome husband.  These years haven't been all wedding bliss, but i know now more than ever we can make it through anything, and I look forward to so many more years spent with you! 

Our life as we know it now

I haven't posted much on the life changes and such since I've been done at Pearce, and started the new chapter in our lives.  I have to say at first it was a challenge.  Going from having the same routine since Aiden was 8 weeks old to an wide open day for me to fill myself was a bit intimidating.  If you had asked me a month ago how I felt i would have said i was adjusting, and as much as i miss working at p4k i knew the day i left that it was the right choice.  I miss the kids, the coworkers and most of the atmosphere there.  Overall it was a great job, and one that had defiantly help mold me into who i am today.  In the last week or so I've really realized how much i love my life now thought too.  We are creating our own daily routine at home, with still having the flexibility to do things we want to.  I've gotten lots of great memories with Aiden that I'll keep forever, and being at home has really started to sit well with me.  We've been to the museum of play countless times, visited Springdale farms, lots of parks, played in the pool outside and so much more.  I love providing for my family in a way that I haven't before, and I've gained so much respect for the world of stay at home moms!  This job to the outside looks easy, and sometimes it may be, but this is a hard job that really doesn't get enough credit. 

Things at Northgate are picking up, we are only 9 weeks away from our launch date.  Oh my does this excited and scare me all at the same time! Covering all aspects of the church in prayer daily is our approach, so God is in total control and we all look forward to this new chapter in the life of NG take off.  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, words of encouragement and friendship over this past month as our family as made a huge change in our lives!

Vacation

In only 5 days from today our little family will take our first family vacation.  A bit last min, but we are all so excited.  So next week this will be the view from my window each morning!!

Shrimp

The little life that grows inside me is getting bigger and bigger each day.  This week something that I vividly remember about learning when I was pregnant with Aiden was when they baby develops fingerprints.  To me this is just God's work at it's finest.  This week baby #2 is developing something that will identify them for the rest of their life; fingerprints.  I look forward to them on my sliding glass door, sticky ones on the table and painted ones I will keep forever! 

This week we've grown as big as a "medium size shrimp"!  So food for week # 13 today is a shrimp! 

Two!

Today at 4:08am my little baby boy turned two!  They say it goes fast so treasure every moment that you get, and i hope I've done that as much as possible. 

Dear Aiden,
    Two years ago my life totally changed, and although its not always been easy i would never chance one second of it.  You have brought joy, love, motherhood, laughter and so much more into my life.  I want to record so much of your life so when we look back we can remember all the things we might forget otherwise.  Today at 4:18am I woke up and said a little prayer just for you.  I pray for your this year that you'll be healthy and strong, learn lots of new things, and most importantly know more about God each and everyday.  This past year you've done so much, learned a lot and grown into such a little boy.  Here as some second year life highlights to look back on...

You use so many more words
give great hugs and kisses
say i love you
feel in love with Elmo
love looking for Kitties at Bumpa's house
graduated to a big boy car seat
went pee pee on the potty for the first time
became a big brother
dressed up as a tootsie roll and went trick or treating for the first time
made lots of friends
went to the beach for the first time
rode a pony
went from crib to toddler bed
learned to eat anything and everyone, but of course on your own terms
have the best box playhouse ever
learned how to pray, and ask to at every meal or snack
had your first of many trips to the museum of play
still had weight battles but are doing great!

and probably so many more things I'll think of later and wish i added.

You're an awesome little boy and I'm so grateful to call you my son.  I love you and wish this next year be great for you!  Happy 2nd Birthday Aiden Michael!!

Love,

Your Mom <3





Fruit of the week...a lime!

It's been such a crazy week i never did my weekly baby post. We had Aiden's 2nd birthday party, didn't quite turn out as totally planned but he had a great day and had lots of fun! (pictures of that posted soon)

 So here it is, a little late but, better late then never.  So week 12, baby Switzer # 2 is the size of a lime!