And the Winner is...

                             

Congratulations Rick W! Please send me an e-mail and I will send you the link to download the program.

Don't Forget about the Giveaway!

Don't forget to check out this post, to see how you could win a great digital scrapbooking program!

A Boy and his Dog

I hope they get to be friends for a long, long time.

My Memories Suite Giveaway!!

I am so excited about this giveaway! My Memories Suite 2 is an awesome digital scrapbooking software that I have had the opportunity to try out over the last week. I already use the creative memories software, so I was eager to see how the two compared.

This is what their website says about the program:

"My Memories Suite version 2 software is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a powerful set of creative tools and multiple sharing options that no other software can offer. Its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features are perfect for a beginner to build an entire album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

You can make a beautiful scrapbook an interactive memory experience for anyone who sees it. Use simple one-click options to enhance your scrapbooks, with music, narration, video, and even the Internet. Go beyond pictures by showing off video of the birthday party, or record a narration to capture the memories that pictures alone cannot. With My Memories Suite you simply don't look at a scrapbook-you experience it!"

First off, it was really easy to download. You do it all right from their website. After it was all downloaded, I opened it up, and it was really easy to navigate. I didn't use a tutorial, I just decided to explore on my own. I figured out really quickly how to make this thank you card:

You can make all kinds of different things, not just scrapbook pages. They even have a video option. I haven't figured that one out yet, but I'll get there eventually.

The thing I most love about this program is that it comes installed with so many different page templates, papers, and embellishments and then on the website, they have a ton of free extras you can download.  You can also import kits into the program, that you have downloaded from other places.

So, if you have no scrapbook experience at all, you can use a template like this one, and it is already done for you.

Another thing that is great is that is has all of these collage templates too. I always wanted to be able to do something like this, but never wanted to take the time to do it myself. Well, now I don't have to. It is already done for me!

When you are done creating your masterpiece, you can  share it in all different kinds of ways:

No onto the best part, I get to give the My Memories Suite 2 program away to one of my readers!

Here is what you have to do for a chance to win this great Digital Scrapbooking Software:

Visit  www.MyMemories.com and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout. Then come back and leave me a comment telling me which one was your favorite.

That's it!
Easy, right?

But, for additional entries you can do any or all of the following:

1. Follow my blog - if you are already a follower, just say so.
2. Follow the My Memories Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/
3. Like them on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/mymemoriessuite
4. Follow them on Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite
5. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog.

Just be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you did.

And as a special for all of my readers, My Memories is giving everyone a coupon code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store! That's $20 off just by using this code at checkout: STMMMS47321

The contest will run from today, through next Wednesday, August 24th at 8:00pm. I will be picking the winner at random using random.org and announcing it on here Wednesday Night. The winner will have 24 hours to contact me with their e-mail address. If I do not hear from them, a new winner will be selected.

Good Luck!

He Loves His Daddy!

When Andrew got home from work yesterday, he went outside to cut the grass.

A certain little boy stood at the window for 10 minutes just watching his daddy cut the grass.

He sure does love his Daddy!

Walking to the Dream Week 22, 23, & 24

Week 22 - 30.5 miles

Week 23 - 19.84 miles

Week 24 - 20.19 miles

Total Walked - 418.35

Total Left to Walk - 126.65 

Such a Big Boy!

Michael has started branching out a lot more lately when it comes to food. He is eating almost all table food, and really liking it.

Last week, we had fried chicken, so I was cutting some off the bone for Michael and he loved it. But apparently I wasn't giving it to him fast enough so Andrew handed him the whole leg. Michael then proceeded to chew on the chicken leg for the next 10 minutes. He is definitely a southern boy!

Also, Michael has decided that he can feed himself, and doesn't need my help. How did he get so big, so quick?

He does a great job getting the spoon to his mouth, and the food into his mouth. He hasn't figured out how to get the food onto his spoon from the bowl yet. But that will come in time.

He is very proud of himself!

Now if we could just get him to eat fruit and veggies that aren't pureed. He really doesn't like the slime factor.

Best Day Ever!

One year ago today, was the best day of my life. We held our baby boy in our arms for the very first time!

We prayed for a child, and God blessed us with the most perfect baby.

From that first moment I held Michael in my arms, it was an instant bond, and I knew, I was his mother.

Thank you God, for giving us Michael, and making me a mother!

1 Year Pictures

On Friday, we met Sarah at a local park so she could take Michael's one year pictures. As always, she did a great job!
At one point during the session, Michael ran right up to her, and gave her the sweetest hugs. He loves his photographer!

Here are just a few she put on facebook.
He's saying "I'm one!"

Check out all those teeth!

Thanks for doing such a wonderful job Sarah! We love you!

Michael's Birthday Party Re-Cap

Michael's Birthday Party was a lot of fun, and wanted to make sure I shared some pictures from the wonderful day!

Cookies all wrapped and ready to go.

The Birthday boy going for a swim with Daddy!

Michael's Cake with some cupcakes

Our little family. Michael wasn't too sure about all the attention.

Daddy helping blow the candle out

Michael wanted nothing to do with his cake.
He even cried when Andrew put icing on his hands.

The icing on his lips is about the only icing that got close to his mouth.

Aunt Becky did manage to get him to eat some ice cream though.
He seems to be liking it!

Our happy family after everyone had left.

And all of the presents that he got!
I forgot to take any pictures while we were opening presents.

Thanks to everyone who came to the party! We had a great time!

29

That is how old I am today!

Baby Katie 8/10/82

Last year I got the best birthday gift ever!

I saw this face for the very first time.

Baby Michael 8/10/10

I'm not sure there is anyway to top that!

 Or maybe there is...

I get to spend all day with that sweet baby boy! 

12 Months Old = 1 Year!

This is Michael's final monthly update! I can't believe my little boy is 1 year old already! Where did this year go?

Here is what Michael is up to at 12 Months Old:
- He is walking everywhere! No more crawling for him!
- He is working on getting his 1 year molars. The top ones are almost through, and the bottom ones are very swollen.
- He weighs about 24 lbs and is 32” tall!

- He is still in size 3 diapers and size 18 month clothes.
- He is eating all kinds of table food. The only baby food he still gets is apple sauce, baby yogurt, and baby cereal (for breakfast). Some of his favorites are: cheese, chicken, pizza, and grits.

- We are almost done transitioning him to the milk-based formula. Once that is complete, we can start to transition him to whole milk. Let’s hope that goes well. He hasn’t had any more issues with the milk-based formula.
- He still isn’t saying too many words. He does say “Mama” but it is very rare. He has started to try and say “please” and “thanks” but the only part that comes out is the "sss" sound on the end. But he holds it out for a long time, thinking he is saying the whole word. It is very cute.

- He loves to the play the drums. When we are upstairs playing, he will make his way into the spare bedroom where the drums are, and pick up a drum stick and start banging on the cymbals.
- He is getting more and more interested in books lately. He will sit with a book for several minutes just flipping the pages and looking at the pictures. He still doesn’t want to read through a book, which takes too long. But he loves turning the pages as I try to get out as many words as I can from that page.

- He is down to one long nap a day. He usually naps from 1:00 – 3:30 pm and then goes to bed at 7:30.
- It is hard to keep him entertained at work now. He used to be happy sitting and playing in the pack 'n play, but now he wants to be out, running around. We are trying to work around that issue.

- This has been the best year of our lives, and there are no words to express how extremely happy he has made us.

.

Michael, you are the best thing that has ever happened to your Daddy and Me, and we will forever be grateful that God chose us, to be your parents