Big Announcement & Halloween

Last weekend was pretty eventful! We went to the annual Fall Staff Conference for Agape Italia and, while there, announced my pregnancy and celebrated Halloween!

Yes, we are so excited to officially announce that I am 12 weeks pregnant with Baby Stowers #2! This Baby is due May 15, 2011. We announced the pregnancy to our friends and coworkers with Agape Italia at the conference last weekend. Colton wore a "Big Bro" t-shirt and we just let people notice by themselves. A lot of people were confused - unsure of whether the shirt was a message or maybe just a hand-me-down that we had Colton wearing. As soon as a few people figured it out, though, word start to spread. It's nice to finally be out in the open with our joy and excitement. :)

Here is Colton in his t-shirt with me...

He was so excited to finally spread the news!

Colton doesn't really understand what it means to be a "Big Bro" or to have a baby on the way. When we ask him, "Do you want to have a Baby Brother or Baby Sister come live with us?" he answers, "No!" about 90% of the time. Haha! Hopefully we can help him warm up to the idea over the coming months. :)

The next day was Halloween. We were so excited to dress Colton up in the adorable dalmatian costume that Gigi made for him. By the time our Fall Festival party rolled around, though, Colton was pretty exhausted and overstimulated by all the conference craziness he'd endured for three days. When we woke him up from his nap to go to the party, he totally lost it - screaming and crying for 50 minutes straight with no way to console him. We barely got him in costume and down to the party before it ended! I had hoped to paint his little nose black and draw him some whiskers but, on this "real life" Halloween it just didn't happen. Oh well, he still made a cute little puppy!

Family Halloween picture - 2010

Cute little puppy bottom...

This was the only Halloween treat Colton got to eat all day/night! The poor little guy really missed out compared to American kids! ;o)

Some of the kids from Agape Italia all dressed up...

I look a bit frazzled - well, let's face it, I was!

But I still adore my sweet little puppy.

As the party ended, Colton finally got into his role as puppy dog. He crawled around for awhile, acting like a "doggy."

Happy Halloween, everyone!

You'll Never Be One Again...

Colton is officially 2-years-old! It's hard to believe how time has flown and what a "big boy" he has become. It is truly miraculous how children grow and develop so much in such a short time.

My mom told me that when my siblings and I turned 2, she would listen to a song by Alabama and dance with us. It always made her cry. The chorus says, "You'll never be one again, the twos are tumblin' on in. [Mommy's] little [boy] is growing up in the world, no you'll never be one again." What a sad but sweet time. And we had a fun time celebrating!

We had a little party for Colton about two weeks before his real birthday. We wanted to celebrate while my sister, Jenn, and brother-in-law, Nate, were visiting. It was really special to be able to celebrate Colton while family was here.

Colton was initially excited when Ross came out holding his birthday cupcake and everyone began singing to him.

But after a minute he decided he did not like the "Happy Birthday" song. He kept pulling on my scarf saying, "Mommy? Mommy!" in an attempt to try to get me to make everyone stop singing.

I showed Colton how to blow out his candle and, after my demonstration, he did it all by himself.

Colton tried a few tastes of the frosting on his birthday cupcake...

...and looked like he was going to take a big bite! But, for the second year in a row, he did not like his cake. The kid would rather eat steamed green beans! I do not know where he got that from.

Mommy and Daddy got Colton a 'Cars' backpack. 'Cars' is his favorite movie.

He had a lot of fun pulling the tissue paper out of the gift bags.

But he was a very careful unwrapper. He pulled each piece of paper off very carefully and handed each one to me to put in the garbage. How organized!

Colton looks so cute in his new Superman shirt!

Aunt Jenn and Uncle Nate got a great picture with Colton after the party.

And we got a great family shot!

On Colton's actual birthday we spent a fun family day together. We started by bombarding Colton in bed with shouts, songs, and a camera flashing. He couldn't hardly open his eyes because the camera flash was so bright!

But he was excited by all the fuss being made over him and he still tried to smile for the camera. What a sweet boy.

Mommy and Colton with his special birthday breakfast - a Grand's Cinnamon Roll from the Army Base in Pisa! What a treat!

Birthday kisses. :)

To celebrate Colton, Ross and I took him to the zoo. It was his first time doing anything like that and he had a blast! It was especially fun to feed the goats...

The big group of goats sort of intimidated Colton so he found this little baby off on its own. He loved feeding it leaves off the ground.

It was so fun to see these leopards just inches away through the glass.

Daddy and Colton got to feed a giraffe!

And an elephant! Colton loved when we fed her but didn't want to be too close himself. I don't blame him - she's a big girl!

Colton liked the zebra because it reminded him of a "horsey!"

And he loved the cute monkeys, as well.

What a special time we had celebrating our big boy! We have been so blessed by God to have him in our lives and we pray that we can give Him glory as we raise the son He has entrusted to us.

Happy birthday, Colton! We love you!

Things Colton Likes...

Colton's 21st and 22nd months have been full of change and growth. Each month I'm totally amazed by how much he's learning, how strong and coordinated he's getting, and how his little (well, maybe not so little) personality is shaping up. Here, in pictures, are a few things that Colton really likes right now...

Colton LOVES coffee. Any time Ross and I have some he all but attacks us to try to wrestle it out of our hands. We usually give him the last little drop in the cup.

Colton loves to climb - the furniture, toys, stairs, ledges. Anything really.

Colton loves "Wrinkles" and "Puppy, " his two crib friends. He insists almost every morning on bringing them out so he can share his breakfast with them.

Colton likes to be in the driver's seat. Yup, that pretty much says it all. :)

Colton LOVES Totti right now. He's finally figured out how to catch him. Totti gets more hugs and cuddles than he ever wanted.

Colton loves copying Mommy and Daddy. Most often he copies what we say or noises we make (I've learned SO MUCH about what comes out of my mouth these past few months!). Today, however, he had a ball copying Daddy while he did his workout. :)

Really, there's never a dull moment...

:)

Sponge

Colton is really a sponge these days. Last night at dinner he busted out some more Italian. The kid loves pasta and as soon as the waitress brought it to our table he started yelling, "Buona!" which means something like "Yummy!" He even put the right hand motion with it, just like the Italians. We were so surprised and tickled by how quickly he is learning and just how fun/funny he is becoming.

Enjoy this little snippet of Colton enjoying his pasta last night.

Please Pray

Years ago, when Ross and I were working at UCF, I met with a student named Marissa for about a year. She went on to marry Jeff and, recently, they learned they were pregnant.

Their son, Jonathan, was born extremely prematurely. Sometime around 23 weeks of Marissa's pregnancy. Obviously, Jonathan has faced many problems since his birth. Recently, however, he was doing well. Then, a couple nights ago, things really took a turn for the worse. Jonathan is fighting for his life, and Marissa and Jeff are fighting for their son.

The greatest thing we can do to help them all fight is to beg the Lord to work in this situation. We can trust that He has a good plan for Marissa, Jeff, and Jonathan. Marissa and Jeff have been amazing pillars of faith during this extremely difficult time. Please, stand with them before the Lord on behalf of their son. Please.

I cannot imagine anything more difficult that watching your child struggle to stay alive... or to lose a child. Marissa and Jeff's website details what Jonathan is facing every day, so we can pray more specifically. I encourage you to take a look at THIS WEBSITE and to faithfully pray for them.

Even though most of you don't know this family, as the Body of Christ we can go to the Lord on their behalf and trust that He will hear us. Let's pray.... and keep on praying!

Dear Lord,

I can't imagine anything harder than what Marissa, Jeff, and Jonathan are facing now. You have been with them every moment that they have walked this difficult road; You have given them incredible strength and faith. Thank you for that. Thank you that we can trust that you have a GOOD plan for each of them, even in the midst of this incredible struggle. God, You love them more than we can even begin to understand. Thank you.

God, I beg you to work in Jonathan's tiny, 2 pound body right now. Begin to heal him. Bring him complete healing so that in the coming weeks, months, and years no one would even guess that he had fought this difficult fight as a newborn. Continue, Holy Spirit, to be with Marissa and Jeff moment by moment. Give them exactly what they need to continue to move forward in this journey, step by step, with You.

Thank you, Lord, for all You and all You do.

In Jesus name I pray all of this...