Today.

We enjoyed the 60 plus degree day at our land in Bowling Green.

We saw colorful signs of progress.

We painted lines.

We played in the leaves.

We had a picnic.

We saw more signs of progress.

We played.

We sat and thought awhile.

We even marked our territory.

It was a great day.

Top Ten from Twenty-Ten

2010 has been quite the year for the Doggetts. I'm going to count down our top ten moments from the year.

10. Shingles and the Chicken Pox

Baylen enjoying an oatmeal bath in the kitchen sink

Grammy brought Cash a bubble gun to take his mind off itching

The week after Labor Day, Heath came down with a pretty bad case of the shingles. After a lot of Vitamin C, Zinc and a few (ha!) pain pills, he was good as new. Dr. Paul told him not to worry about the boys getting chicken pox. As long as they don't come in contact with the oozing blisters, they won't get them. Yeah, right! At the end of the month, both the boys broke out! Cash had them the worst. They absolutely covered his body - from his gums, tongue and ears to his face, between his fingers and belly. He was covered! Baylen only had about a dozen, mostly on his head. My mom and Granny, known as Grammy and Nanny to the boys, came and spent Tuesday and Wednesday with us. Nanny stayed to help on Thursday, and then we went to Glasgow on Friday. Keep in mind this was when Heath was working from 6am until 6 or 7 at night. They were a huge help! I don't think we would have survived without them! All in all, I'm glad it's over. We did a virus cleanse afterwards, so hopefully they won't have to worry about shingles when they are older. Cash does have a scar on his forehead, but he's a boy. Don't all boys have scars?

9. Lil' man got a big boy bed

Cash with his new big boy bed

We had thought that our house would sell before the summer, and the need for a bigger bed for Baylen wouldn't be a problem. He could just sleep in his bassinet until we moved. Well, because summer came and the house hadn't sold, we decided to move Cash's crib into our bedroom and buy a toddler bed for Cash. It was such a milestone for our lil' man, and he was thrilled about it. He fell asleep in his new bed just fine, has only fallen out once since the first night, and loves the spring action when he jumps on it. :)

As for the crib, Baylen, of course, adjusted fine. He had more room to spread out (good thing since we just now sold the house). He's still not sleeping all through the night (that's a whole different story), but has made Cash's crib, his own.

8. Lil' man turned two! (and basically potty trained himself!)

Cash on his second birthday

On June 25th, Cash turned two with Elmo style. We had his second birthday party at my parents' house (our's is just two small to host family). Elmo plates, Elmo cake and of course, Elmo toys. We had a great time with family celebrating the sweetest two year-old blessing!

Over the long July 4th weekend, we had a "bare bottom" weekend, and by the end of July, we were out of diapers and into big boy underwear (preferably Thomas or Elmo printed) for good. We are so proud of our lil' man!

7. Cash's birthday party in Georgia (a.k.a. Doggett family reunion)

Cash and PawPaw enjoying cake

We had decided to have a small birthday party with family down in Georgia so Marlo (Heath's dad, known as PawPaw to the boys) wouldn't have to make the trip again to Kentucky. With the help of Marlo's cousin, Linda, a fun party was planned and all the family was invited. And when I say, all, I mean ALL THE FAMILY! We had such a great time hanging out with cousins, aunts, great-aunts, and more! We were most excited about Heath's great-aunt, Christine, getting to meet both our boys. She's such a beautiful person both inside and out. We love her, and were glad she got to meet our two little ones.

Christine and Baylen

6. Staying-at-home

My oldest student

For the past six years, August meant going-back-to-school time for me. The last few weeks of July would be filled with trips to school to clean, organize, and prepare for the upcoming school year. But not this year! After much prayer and discussing and more prayer, Heath and I decided that it would be best for me to be at home with our boys, raising them and loving on them - pouring myself into them and not other kiddos for a few years. And so it was. When August came around, I started a new chapter in my life as stay-at-home mom. I still think of myself as a teacher. Only now I have two (of the cutest) students, we can watch Sesame Street in our pajamas, and go to the park on warm days. I'm still working on perfecting the grilled cheese though!

5. St. Louis

At the new Cardinals' stadium

Starting in 1999, my dad and I would take a trip to a different baseball park on Labor Day weekend. Our plan was to see them all, and over the past 10 years, we have seen a lot of parks! This year would be no different. We had not seen the new St. Louis Cardinals stadium, so we decided that would be our destination ... in a fifteen passenger van ... with the ENTIRE family. Boy, did we make a vacation out of it. The Magic House, a baseball game, a long walk around the city (ha!), and a short trip to the Gateway Arch and then the St. Louis Zoo ... we did a lot! It was exhausting, but fun!

4. Karalee is done with her treatments!

Karalee with Cash on Thanksgiving

My sister, Karalee, (known as Bubba to the boys) was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of last year. After surgery, she started chemo and then had 30+ days of radiation. In the spring, (mid-April) she and Derek celebrated being done with her treatments by taking a relaxing trip to Costa Rica. What a praise! She was done with treatments. Later this year, in the fall, she had her port taken out, too! Her hair is growing back (curly!) and she's regaining her strength. I've always been amazed at my sister. Her fight over the past year is just another way that she has inspired me.

3. PawPaw moved to Kentucky!!

That's right! Marlo now lives about 20 minutes from where we will be living. After Thanksgiving, he decided he wanted to be closer to his kids and grandkids, so Alison (Heath's sister) found him a place in Allen Co., the ball started rolling, and he moved in the weekend of December 18th. We are so excited to have him closer. I know the boys will love being able to see PawPaw more often!

2. Sold!

Finally, sold!

When we put our house on the market in April, Baylen was just two weeks old. I remember a certain friend (no name dropping allowed) said it would be sold in "less than thirty days." Oh, me. Even though we had a few other offers, the offer that "stuck" came the week before Thanksgiving, and we set the closing date for December 29th. (Baylen's 9 months old now.) Although it was frustrating at times, we began to see that it was completely God's timing. Yes, it would have been nice to sell the house early, but it wasn't a part of His plan for us.

And the number one moment from 2010 ...

1. Baylen Neal Doggett, born March 23rd at 9:46am

7 lbs. 10 3/4 oz. 21 inches long

A few hours after he was born

Mommy of two!

The best blessing of 2010!

This is a happy post.

Tuesday night before Heath and I left our house for the last time, we sat and “remembered back.” We started to realize that there were a lot of memories and milestones from inside those four walls.

It was where …

...Heath asked me to marry him.

...we came home for the first time as a newly married couple.

...we got the shock that we were indeed expecting our first little one.

...we brought our lil’ man home.

...Heath and I were down on our knees praying when we got the call that his mom didn’t make it.

...lil' man took his first steps.

...I walked and breathed and walked some more when I was in labor with Baylen.

...Baylen first called home AND took his first steps, too.

Heath told me that I "did good" picking out our first house. Crazy to think that's what I was doing when I, single and right out of college, bought that house. Yeah, I'll have to agree. I did do good. But as sad as I was leaving that little house for the last time, I am happy. There are many memories there, but I know that there will be even more memories made in our new house. We are both looking forward to that, and actually, the wheels are already turning. Heath has been meeting with people this afternoon at the land, and he's hoping that his dad can help him lay it out tomorrow (pending the weather). The basement may be dug as early as next week. As for being back in Glasgow, things are quickly finding their places, the boys have pretty much adjusted to their new rooms, and the company is great!

Wordless Wednesday

Moving Day

Baylen in the bedroom we shared

Cash loved playing in the truck while it was being loaded

Thanks to a few helpful friends, my mom and aunt, we got it all out.

As Cash said, "Good-bye my house."

From a house to home

I bought our little house in July of 2004, right out of college. It was just Ruth (my cat) and me. Most rooms had furniture, there were plates in the cabinets, a TV in the den and it was my house. I liked my little house. Slowly, it began to change though. Heath moved in after we got married in October of 2005, and it changed to "our" little house.

When Cash was born in the summer of 2008, something crazy happened to this house. I believe it finally became a home. There were no magazines stacked perfectly on the coffee table anymore. There were random plastic balls in the corners of our sloped rooms, and the backyard was covered with trucks, bats and more balls. It was our home. A seriously lived-in home. With the addition of Baylen this spring, this home began to bulge. So many things (and people) in such a small space. But it was home. Isn't there a song that says something like "love grows best in little houses?" Well, there has been a lot of love filling up this little house, and now it's someone else's turn to make this little house into a home.

Here are some scenes that make our little house a home...

Have you ever taken a shower with a plastic policeman?

We always know where to find them.

And I just picked up the den ...

For the past two and a half years, our freezer has been filled with either "liquid gold" or homemade baby food - or both.

Colorful spoons and a bottle brush - signs of a growing family.

Good-bye 1113.

In the beginning...

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1

In our small group right now, we are studying creation according to the Bible. It's been absolutely mind-blowing to really dig into God's Word and understand the true six-day creation. Growing up, I knew and understood that God created it all, but had a very blurry image of how it all went down. To think of how God brought everything into existence, separated light from darkness, waters from the heavens, dry land from seas forming mountains and valleys humbles me. On top of it all, this powerful God also wants to be a part of my life and loves me so much that He would sacrifice His Son for me. How awesome it is to serve a God that created the entire world, but is still interested in having a relationship with me! My prayer for the upcoming new year is that I would keep that in the forefront of my mind.

Speaking of beginnings, this is our beginning. Yes, all we have is a mailbox right now, but it's a start. Right?

Merry Christmas!

Even though it's the day after Christmas, I have some time (not much I'm sure - babies are sleeping) to write a post and wish everyone a merry Christmas. We hope that you had a Christ-filled Christmas and took time to remember what Christmas is really about and give thanks for our Savior. Here are some pictures from our Christmas day ...

We enjoyed some birthday cake (strawberry coffee cake) in honor of Jesus' birthday.Yes, those are paper plates. Keep in mind we're moving in four days.

We lit our fifth candle, the Celebration candle.

He couldn't resist. With presents under the tree waiting to be torn into, Cash had to go outside and play and walk around making tracks and make a snowman (yes, that's a fireman's hat) and walk around some more...

B decided to snooze while lil' man was outside playing.

After B woke up from his nap, we convinced Cash that we needed to open presents before we drove to Glasgow. This is the best picture I captured of my excited two and a half year-old and walking 9 month-old.

Cash got a dumptruck and front loader. He was super excited.

Baylen enjoyed it, too.

Matching pajamas. I had to do it. Aren't they cute in them? This is the first time they have ever matched ... might have to be a new tradition.

Me and my boys...

When we left for Glasgow, we stopped by the land to take a picture showing all the beautiful snow. Heath and I love it when the snow sticks to the trees.

At mom and dad's house (our soon-to-be temporary home).

If anyone asked Cash about Christmas this year, he would either say "Jesus' birthday!" (really loudly) or he would say "shake-shake bridge!" Here it is ... Thomas the Tank Engine's shake-shake bridge ... at last.

Baylen was getting a little tired, but had fun playing with his new toy from Grammy and Grandad, too.

Heath and I taking a break from putting together toys and chasing babies to smile for the camera.

From the Doggetts to you -- we hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

"Me, you Daddy and baby, white shirts"

Most nights around here, after Heath gets home from work and supper has been eaten, my lil' man says these words in his sweet little voice. He loves that Daddy, Baylen and himself all have on white undershirts, and he wants them to be seen. So Daddy takes off his work shirt, I strip B down to his onesie and Cash plays in his undershirt. It really is the little things that make the memories.

Post Number One

I'm eating my words. I always said that I could never have a blog. Who has time for one? My two boys keep me too busy to have time to sit and blog. (To prove this, I started this post Saturday morning, and am not getting around to finishing it until Monday afternoon.) On top of that, who would read a blog that I would write? Face it, we're not that exciting.

Like I said, I'm eating my words. I still don't have a lot of time, but things seem to be getting a little more interesting around here. As for who will read it, it doesn't matter if it entertains one person or twenty. I'm not going to worry about that. So after much thought, here it is ... my blog. I hope it will become an outlet to keep family and friends updated on what's going on since we are going to be displaced (or misplaced, either one ...) for the next six months. I'm not going to promise to post every day, every other day, or even once a week. I might even lose interest within a month and close up shop (hopefully not), but we'll see.

I quickly found out that creating a blog is simple, but finding an available name for one is a bit more tricky. So I thought to myself, "What's the blog going to be about?" and came up with the title. I know it's long. Sorry. But hopefully you can bookmark it, or just click on the link from Facebook and not have to type it in.

Okay, here goes. I'm going to publish my first post.