2009 Family Christmases

Here are a few snapshots of the family Christmases that we celebrated this year.

Click on any of the pix below to see more from each Christmas gathering.

Rogers' Christmas (Jeremy's Mom's family)

From Family Christmases in December

Long's Christmas (Jeremy's Dad's family)

From Family Christmases in December

Brasfield's Christmas (my Mom's family)

From Family Christmases in December

Immediate Batson Christmas

From Family Christmases in December

Immediate Long Christmas

From Family Christmases in December

Us on Christmas Morning (Click on this pix below to see more from our Cmas Morning)

From 12-25-09 Christmas Morning

Batson's Christmas (my Dad's family)

From Family Christmases in December

What a blessed Christmas we had!
love you all!

Merry Christmas 2009!

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky

above proclaims His handiwork." Psalm 19:1

From 12-1-09 Cmas Pix

Merry Christmas with Love!

Jeremy, Michelle, and Emily

Happy Eleven Months Birthday, Emmie!

Emmie,

From Monthly Growing Photos

Merry Christmas Eve! It is a very special day today and also the day you turn 11 months. We have had such a fun month with you, once again.

This month you have:
-You are 18.5 lbs. and 27.5 inches.
-You can repeat noises we make: a buzzing bee, sssssssssss, clicking your tongue, etc.
-You can mimic words that we say like: red, yellow, bellybutton, diaper, mickey mouse, and tada.
-You had your first Thanksgiving and we were in Bristol, TN with G'Mom, Grampa, Aunt Jen, Uncle Chad, Molly, and Leah
-Your first Thanksgiving meal was a WHOLE croissant roll. All by yourself!
-When we give you your brush to play with and a phone you put them by your ear (so smart)
-Your first favorite song is "If Your Happy and You Know It!" When we sing it you smile big and start clapping.
-CRAWLING! You have mastered this and are an official crawler.
-You got sick this month and you were so sad. You had a sinus infection and went on an antibiotic, Amoxililin, for it.
-You went with Mommy and Daddy to get your first Cmas tree and you put the first ornament on it.
-You have started laughing at things on your own that you think are funny and make you laugh.
-You will hand us book to read to you.
-You went to the mall to take your first pix with Santa. You did great and didn't cry!
-We put Cheerios in your bib and you ate them. It was so funny!
-You moved up to the crawler room at church.
-You started having 10 min. of "room time" to play safely by yourself.
-You are really good at playing peek a boo. You will even keep the blanket on your head for a few min. and just waiting - laughing at us until you pull it off.
-We have started telling you "no no" and we heard you saying it while you were going to bed one night. too funny!
-You started using a snack trap.

Click here to see more pix from Emmie at 10 months.

This Advent Season has been so special. I have enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior with you each day. We had a chain link that had little activities for you and I to do together. We got to read scripture, dance, sing, and play instruments together. We made wonderful memories together.

I love you!
Mommy

Christmas Traditions as a Family

We are loving doing all these 1st with Emmie as a family. What joy it bring to our hearts!

Going to get her first tree...

From Emmie at 10 Months

As we were decorating the tree with lights, Jeremy decided that Emmie's exersaucer needed to be "pimped" with lights too...

From Emmie at 10 Months

Emmie put the first ornament on our tree this year. It says "Emmie's 1st Christmas" with her hand print...

From Emmie at 10 Months

Checking Santa out! She did great! Modeling the dress that my mom smocked for her (and her 2 cousins have matching dresses too!) Thanks, G'Mom...

From Emmie at 10 Months

Here is the professional one. We were so surpised that she didn't cry through sitting on his nap. YEAH!

From Emmie at 10 Months

OFFICIALLY Crawling Now!

As of yesterday morning and afternoon, I would have told you that Emmie was not really crawling yet b/c she was not moving her knees at all....WELL - last night for Jeremy and I she went 9-10 crawls. (Is that what you call it?)

From Emmie at 10 Months

She still enjoys sitting up and playing for now, but I am sure that won't last for much longer and she will be on the move all the time. Also, as of now, she doesn't like to crawl on the kitchen tile. She just sits at the edge of the carpet in the living room and tile in the kitchen and just pats her hands on the tile.

From Emmie at 10 Months

Sweet times! We are so blessed that our daughter is healthy and able to crawl. I love how the Lord develops her mind and her wheels turn so that she can accomplish new things!

Click any of the pix above to see a few more pix of Emmie at 10 Months.

Our First Thanksgiving as a Family

This past week we met my parents and Jen's family in Bristol, TN to stay at a house in the mountains. It was so fun to be together, relax, watch football, and make memories together.

Here are a few pix of the highlights from the week...
(Click on any of the pix below to see more.)

Our first Thanksgiving Family photo

From 11-25-09 Thanksgiving

Molly on a scavenger with Grampa and Jeremy (that he came up with)

From 11-25-09 Thanksgiving

Me with sweet Leah (the best - snugglin')

From 11-25-09 Thanksgiving

Jeremy built us a fire on Saturday night to roast marshmellows

From 11-25-09 Thanksgiving

Molly and Emmie

From 11-25-09 Thanksgiving

Happy Ten Months Birthday, Emmie!

Emmie,

From Monthly Growing Photos

Again, your Daddy and I have fallen more in love with you this month. God revealed to me this month that it is only by Him that we get to experience a very special joy that only comes by being parents. It is amazing and a true honor. Your Daddy was holding you just 2 nights ago (in the mist of having fun and playing in the living room) and he got emotional by the overwhelming love that the Lord has given him for you.

This month:
-You are 17.5 lbs. weight and 29 inches.
-You are famous for your dimples, esp. when you chew your Cheerios (Aunt Jordy loves this).
-You are starting to point with your index finger - #1 or "round 'em up"
-You copied Daddy and blew his whistle. so good!
-You like to play on the floor in front of the refrig with magnets
-Sometimes when you are nursing you want to stop and clap your hands. so funny!
-You were Princess Leia from Star Wars for Halloween. too cute! (and Daddy made his Humpty Dumpty costume.)
-You aren't crawling yet, but you "swim" (put your cheek on the ground, stretch with your arm, and push with your opposite leg).
-Your Great Grandmother Dot (Grampa's mom) said "I am getting richer by the day" when I was talking about her 3 great grand-daughters today. so sweet!
-You had for the first time: baby yogurt, zucchini, and corn.
-You are consistently eating 5 oz. of baby food 4 times a day.
-You are holding on tighter on my hip now when I hold you.
-You know how to "turn the page" when we read to you.
-You are still taking two 1 1/2 hr. naps each day. You are going to bed around 7-8p each night and sleep until 7:15-7:45. (Mommy and Daddy say "thanks!")
-At bedtime, as a family we read a story and pray and then Daddy sings 1-2 song and rocks you for a few min. You love this time with Daddy and rest your head on his chest. He cherishes this! Then we lay you down awake. You have stopped crying when we walk out of the room.
-You have figured out how to take your paci out when you want to drink from your sippy cup.
-You have learned how to sit up on your own. It was a big surprise to Mommy when I looked at your monitor after your nap and you were sitting up. WOW! You first did this in your crib using the bumpers as help, but now you can do it anytime and anyplace.
-You have started trying to blow us kisses. You can make the kiss noise, but we are still working on the hand.
-You started to chew on your crib railing.
-We have also moved your crib matress down a level.
We also had our awesome professional photographer, Micelle King, take 9 mo. pix of Emmie.
Click here to see more pix of Emmie this month.

From Emmie at 9 Months

You are so special to us and we cherish each day with you, our sweet little Emmie.
I love you!
Mommy

Float Plane Ride over Lake Guntersville (by Jeremy)

Whad up blogger people! For those checking in with Michelle's blog, I gave Michelle the night off and decided I would do the update this time.

We had a blast this past weekend. Dropped little Emily off in Cullman with her godparents, Josh and Sashari Caretti, while we drove up to Guntersville for a romantic one hour plane ride over Lake Guntersville in a 1953 Cessna Sea Plane (don't worry, no one joined the "mile high club"... this time). The property was beautiful, the ride was smooth, and the weather could not have been more perfect. We even saw two adult bald eagles and an immature bald eagle (you could tell because he was making farting noises with his armpits). The flight was even topped off with banana flavored popsicles (a tradition of the pilot).

To see more, click on any of the pictures below.

From 11-7-09 Float Plane Ride

From 11-7-09 Float Plane Ride

From 11-7-09 Float Plane Ride

We finished the weekend by celebrating the dedication of Miss Mallory Elizabeth Long (Jason & Diana's newest daughter) to the Lord. What a priviledge to be a part of her life and see her raised in a godly home. We certainly do pray she comes to know the Lord at a young age and develops a personal relationship with Him. Included in the celebration was her great grandparents Luke and Wilma Rogers (aka. Nanny & Paw-Paw) who made the trek down from Chattanooga, TN. What a wonderful loving family we are all so blessed to have.

To see more, click on any of the pictures below.

From 11-8-09 Mallory's Dedication

From 11-8-09 Mallory's Dedication

I'm out for this edition. Stay tuned for the next "J-Lo" edition of the Long's blog! You never know when I might pop by!

Jimmy J and the J Child

Happy Halloween!

Here is our Princess ("Princess Leia") on her first Halloween. We are not big Star Wars fans, but this costume was Jeremy idea when we were playing with Emmie one night. We had the old fashioned bright rings out and he put them on her ears and the he said "you know what she should be for Halloween..."

From Emmie at 9 Months

Yesterday, Jeremy had a costume contest at work and he dressed up like Humpty Dumpty. He won 2nd place! He worked some really late nights on this and did a great job!

From Emmie at 9 Months

P.S. Emmie and I have had so much fun this week just playing and enjoying the beautiful weather. Here are some pix from our week. Click on the pix below to see more.

From Emmie at 9 Months

We went to the 'dell and the AU/LSU game!

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

We went to Slidell this past weekend to see my highschool friends, to go to the Auburn/LSU game, and also see all the kids growing up. We had a great time dispite the Auburn loss, but it was fun to catch up with my girlfriends. We stayed with Kris, Jason, and Sam (1 1/2 yrs old).

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

Friday night, Carla stopped by with Caroline (4 yrs old) and Ben (1 1/2 yrs old).

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

On Saturday, Jeremy and I also had a great time tailgating together. It was a date for us, since Kris' mom and Mrs. Debbie kept Sam (1 1/2 yrs old) and Emily (9 mo) for us while the adults went to the football game.

Click on any of the pix to see more from this weekend.

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

On Sunday, we stopped by Amy and Nick's to see Parker (5 yrs old) and Peyton (2 yrs old).

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

From 10-26-09 Trip to Slidell

Happy Nine Months Birthday, Emmie!

Emmie!

From Monthly Growing Photos

(notice in the pix above that Emmie is clapping - a new trick!)


You are 3/4 of a year old! How exciting! Again, we had the best month with you. Everyone says "it goes by so fast", so I ask them "well, how do you slow it down?". They say "You can't!" Okay, so we will just enjoy and count our blessings every day with you, sweet girl!

You are growing well:
16 lbs. and 12 oz.
27 inches long
15 3/4 head cir.

This month:
-you have FOUR new teeth on the top!!!!!!
-you are still nursing 4 times a day
-you can drink out of your sippy cup all by yourself now by tipping it up
-you are really good at a fake cough - too funny!
-you tried for the first time this month: cheese, goldfish, cereal bar, and crackers
-you hold your bottle ALL by yourself the whole feeding the whole time
-you recognize your name and turn your head when we call your name
-you like to turn the pages on your books and photo album
-you have started pulling your bows out of your hair
-you have started pushing things away when you don't want them
-you offered Daddy your Cherrio
-Daddy was holding you and I was chasing ya'll and you thought it was hillarious - you let out a HUGE laugh!
-you got your first official cold - yucky!
-you like your Daddy's hairy legs - you rub them and sometime get a good hold and pull too hard
-Daddy taught you how to clap and you are really good at it!
-you love ice in your sippy cup to make your water cold
-we are trying to teach you how to kiss Mommy and Daddy on the cheek
-when I try to get you to stand up sometimes, you keep your feet out straight in front of you like you want to sit down. this makes me laugh!

Your sweet sounds and noises are music to our ears. You are a true joy from the Lord and we are thankful to have you and share you with our friends and family.

Click here to see more pix from this month.

I love you, Emily!
Mommy

Good Times with a Best Friend

Michelle and I have been good friends for 20 yrs (since we were 11 yrs old in 6th grade)! I feel old. Am I really older than 20 yrs. old? WOW - how time flies. We went to Slidell High together and then to different colleges. She went to USA in Mobile and I went to Auburn, but thankgoodness our paths always stayed together.

From 10-14-09 visit with Michelle and the kids

This past week she came from Tues-Thurs with her 2 kids, Maia (2 1/2) and Connor (1 yr) and we just hung out. It was really rainy, so we didn't get to be outside as much as we would have liked, but it was still relaxing to just be together.

From 10-14-09 visit with Michelle and the kids

Click on any of the above pix to see more from our time together.

Meeting Leah Rose Sellers!

We were so blessed this past weekend to go up to see Jen and Chad in Baltimore and their growing family. They are adjusting perfectly and Jen has even had her first outing with the girls this week all by herself! You go girl!

From 9-3-09 Meeting Leah Rose Sellers

We met Leah (2 1/2 weeks old) for the first time. Oh my, she is so snuggly! I just LOVED holding her and lovin' on her. We praise the Lord for her.

From 9-3-09 Meeting Leah Rose Sellers

We were also guaranteed a good time with Molly too! She is now 2 1/2 and so funny! She is so sweet with Emmie and Leah. She would often share her toys with Emmie. Emmie is SO interested in doing whatever Molly is doing.

From 9-3-09 Meeting Leah Rose Sellers

Here is a funny girl!

From 9-3-09 Meeting Leah Rose Sellers

A sweet moment...

From 9-3-09 Meeting Leah Rose Sellers

Click any of the pix above to see more

or click here to see my sister's pix from the weekend too.

Time with a Legend

Last night, Jeremy and I were invited to sit at Coosa Valley Medical Center's table at the "Blue Jean Ball". It was a fundraiser hosted by Pat Dye at his home in Auburn to raise money for the AU and AUM nursing programs.

From 9-25-09 Coach Pat Dye

Aubie made an appearance too.

From 9-25-09 Pat Dye

The company at our table was wonderful and the food was great too, but most of all it was nice to get out just the 2 of us for an evening together.

From 9-25-09 Coach Pat Dye