blessed

We are so very blessed. Both Chris and I absolutely LOVE all our siblings!

Between us both we have 9 siblings. Of those 9 siblings 7 are under the age of 8; 6 of our siblings are under the age of 5; 3 of those 9 siblings were born in the past 2 years; 2 were born in the past year! That is right! Ryan is 18, Britney is 17, Mikayla is 8, Carissa is 5, James is 4, Rose Mary is 2 (almost 3); Zachariah is 2, Jakob is around 11 months, and Mason is around 6 months!!

We love all our siblings SO much!! What a blessing it is to have siblings being born as we are having our child! Some people ask, "Isn't it weird that your parent's are STILL having children??" NO, no it IS NOT! We couldn't imagine our lives without any of our siblings!! Blessings, that is what they are!

I was given permission to let people know about the exciting news you all have been waiting to hear...even though I am sure you all ready know! Even though she said it was all right to tell people, she her self or her husband has not "posted" anything on facebook (but I am pretty sure the word has been spread around). But, their parents have! And, she has been writing people and telling them...where everyone can read. Good and Happy news spreads quickly!

Anyways...here it goes..I got a chat message on facebook (Monday morning) from a friend that said, "Your baby rubbed off on me ;)"---Our friends Rachel and Philemon are expecting their first child! They got pregnant "quick" like what we did. Within the first few months of marriage!! We are excited for them..but PLEASE PRAY for mommy and baby =)


Psalms 127:4-As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Proverbs 17:6-Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

memory book

I finally decided to sit down and scan a few pages from Obadiah's memory book that I have been working on!

1. Outside cover album-my sister Carissa (5 years old) created that one! She picked out the paper and the pictures and designed it-I moved things around a little to make sure nothing was overlapping!
2. This is page 5 of the album-"announcing the news"
3. This is page 22 of the album-"introducing baby"
4. This is page 43 (I think-I do not number my albums)-"this is apart of the 'at home visitors' section.

I definitely have been enjoying creating our son's scrapbook album. I was going to scan a few pages from our "first year album"--but I can not find it right now. My husband had it last.
I was going to finish our "first year album" before I started on our wedding album (I know, I am behind!) BUT..my husband looked at me and said, "You haven't done our wedding album? Whats the point now?"--SO...I have been quickly working on that to finish it soon..! We did not have professional pictures at our wedding and there is also none of our wedding pictures in our house hanging up bc they were not done professionally. So...I want to have this album so we can look at it!

All my albums that I have been doing are sizes 8.5 by 11! Personally, I LOVE these sizes, they are not too big or too small.

That being said, I have a few albums I am wanting to sell. They are in good condition. I have one 8 by 8 album (green colors) and four 12 by 12 albums-a wedding one, a baby one (polka dots-multiple colors), a purple one, and a black one with flowers on it. IF you are interested, please contact me. Most everyone has my information and can get a hold of me =) Then I can send you a picture of the album(s) you have in mind and the price I am asking (which will be less then what the stores ask for).

next size up

Obadiah is in 6 month (3-6 month) clothing now!! Its a sad happy day!! He is growing so much!! I am washing the next size clothing!! I put one outfit on and it fit him PERFECTLY! sniffle sniffle.

I was putting offf moving him to the next size clothing bc looking him, it just doesnt look like he would fit in them! Well...I was wrong. I wonder when I should have moved him up! LOL!

Our baby is growing...growing growing growing. We are so blessed to have been blessed to been given this little guy. God is good and gives us so much more then what we deserve!

I am excited to hear what Ezekiel's (Obadiah's little buddy) appointment goes today! Ezekiel was born almost a week after Obadiah and was born much bigger then Obadiah. But, Ezekiel was close to 3 weeks over due! But, Obadiah is catching up...I keep forgetting to take an updated picture of them. Below is a picture of them a few hours after Ezekiel was born.










I just found out some exciting news from a friend...my lips are sealed until the okay is given =) There has been so many engagement, wedding, pregnancy, and birth annoucements! God is so good! But, like always, no matter what the exciting news is, Please Pray for her. And, of course, be looking for updates =)

Today, Obadiah did our daily reading and praying for dad (christopher). Today we read, Proverbs 22. I just thought I would share these verses that "stuck" out:

• A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
• Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
• Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Birthday Wish!

We want to wish a Happy Birthday to our little brother James!! He turns 4 years old on Feb 22!! We love you James!!

Weekend Get-Away

Many of you know that we were able to go the couples retreat this year at Port Ludlow! It was fabulous!! Not only was the weather great and the sceanery beautiful (constantly reminding you of God's creation), the messages from Pastor was awsome!! We loved our pre-marriage counceling we had with him (we still look at our notes from it), so we KNEW we were going to love his messages at Couples Retreat!! Here are a few pics from our little weekend "get-away"!
One of the views from the Inn that we stayed at!

These next 2 pics are at the Dungeness Spit!


Here is a picture of us! I think it is a little "goofy"/not very good! BUT, it is better then nothing =)

Rolling

Today Obadiah rolled from his tummy to his back!! We were just talking at his doctor's appointment yesterday that he has not done this yet! He started rolling from his back to his tummy over a week ago! It is amazing what the littlest things our children do make us mothers so happy and proud! Just thought I would share this video with you all!!

Trusting God

Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

This morning as I was getting Obadiah ready for his doctors appointment I was singing him this song that goes along with the verse above: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise (Be not wise ) in thine own eyes (in thine own eyes): fear the LORD (fear the LORD), and depart from evil (and depart from evil). Be not wise (Be not wise ) in thine own eyes (in thine own eyes): fear the LORD (fear the LORD), and depart from evil (and depart from evil)!We prayed right before we left for his appointment.

Daily, we have been reading a book of Proverbs and praying for our (Obadiah and My) day and daddy's day to go well. Today, we prayed for Obadiah's 4 month appointment to go well!!

Many of you know from the previous blog post that Obadiah was going in today for his 4 month shots. I received an anonymous comment on that post that stated: "Be careful about giving him shots so early,they can cause Autism and other serious conditions. Do your homework...there are a lot of healthy babies who were fine until they were given Vaccines. Please do your homework on them." First off I would like to say, This is our family blog and we post things that are going on in our family wither its news, updates, beliefs, or what not. Secondly, I am not here to "argue" or "debate" over this virtual Internet world. I am posting where we stand to make things clear for others who may read our blog!I did to my "homework"! On top of researching several different websites about autism and vaccines I have talked to several different people, including family, close friends, and most importantly Obadiah's pediatrician (who has been in his profession for over 30 years)! Where we stand is we trust God to give our doctor's wisdom on how to treat us.There is no link to vaccines causing autism. My doctor gave me a wonderful website to look at: vaccine.chop.edu! This website looks at both sides of questions several people have about vaccines.

So, Obadiah DID get his 4 month shots today! He did pretty good today, he had some Tylenol and he is now sleeping. He did not have a reaction to his last set of shots, which are all the same shots today. He was a little grouchy for about 12 hours last time.Obadiah is doing great. He was using his voice today at his appointment. He weighs 12 lbs 10 oz which is on the 10%, he is 24 1/2 inches long which is in the 25%, and get this-his head circumference is 42 cm which is in the 50%-he has a "big" head, compared to the rest of his body, he is "heavy-top" as what Janinne called it! Even though he is in the 10% & 25% for weight & height, he is growing at a steady pace!! His doctor says he is doing awesome!!

SO thankful that God gave us a healthy baby boy!! Both, Chris and I can not believe he is all ready 4 months old!! Praise the Lord!! We are excited to see this little grow and we are excited for what God has in store for our family, including if he decides to bless us with more little blessings in the future!=)

22 years ago today

22 years ago today our parents, Christopher Dixon and Janelle Pepper were married!!

We want to wish them a Happy Anniversary!! We all love them very much and are so thankful for them!! It is SO great to have family so close!!

Today after church, we took my parent's van along with my 4 younger siblings back to our house so my parents could go on a date to celebrate the 22nd year anniversary. We were all getting out of the van walking up to our house, and a Police Officer asked us if we were competing with "19 and counting"!!

No sir, not yet at least, only one of these 5 children are ours, the others are siblings!! I thought to my self 1) do we look like we are old enough to have 5 children?? and 2) do I look like I had 5 children??
It was really funny. Maybe one day-If the Lord blesses, but not today!! Children are a blessing from God!

4 months!

Can you believe it?? Obadiah is 4 months old now!! I can hardly believe it!! wow.! He is starting to become a "ham"!! He is such a cutie!! He is starting to laugh more, Sheila Mandry and Grandma Mandry had him laughing at scrapbooking last night!! It was SO cute!! We set up his "big" bouncy and he loves it because he can sit up and look around at everything!! He has been drooling constantly and his gums are lined with bumps...some teeth are begining to come in!! He has his 4 month appointment next week for his next set of shots! At that appointment we will also find out his weight and height!!

Scrapbooking!

This past weekend a few ladies and I went to the Scrapbooking Convention in Portland, OR!! It was my first time going to Oregon (besides teen camp-which doesnt count) AND it was my first time going to a scrapbooking convention, let me tell you--IT WAS AWSOME!! I had such a blast!! Christopher kept Bud with him (which was sweet of him-they spent daddy son time)! We headed down to Portland on friday. Walked around Portland, our hotel was a few blocks away from a shopping center and the convention! Later we met up with Heather Boyce and her mother!! We ate at Claim Jumpers and Cheese Cake Factory!! YUMM!! So much fun!

I thought I loved scrapbooking, but I do not even touch the crazy scrappers that were there!! My mind was blown away!! I could not believe it!!

I found items mostly for our 2nd year ablum and wedding ablum!

All in all, I had a blast with my mother, sheila, and sheri! Portland traffic, is a NO-GO!

**For those interested, a few of us ladies will be scrapbooking at Sheila's house this thursday!! We would love to have you!!**

Birthday Wish

I would like to wish my brother, Zackey a HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!! Zackey was born on February 5, 2008. He arrived 6 weeks early weighing 5lbs 11oz! Here are some pictures! (For some reason the second picture wouldn't turn, not even in the file-weird)!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Little Brother, LOVE YOU!!