little baby

Hey everyone, I hope yall are having A GREAT day. If not I am sure this sweet face will make you smile. A couple of weeks ago my sweet friend Brittney had A session with our nephew Trace. She did A GREAT job and took some really beautiful pictures,Every time I look at them it makes me smile. As you all know I am just completely smitten with Trace,He is just so darn cute. Here is the slide show and be sure to jump on over to www.brittanybellblog.com and look at some of her great work.

Trace McCracken from brittany bell on Vimeo.

So much Fun

Hello, I hope everyone had A great weekend and are enjoying the coming of the holiday season. Yesterday Nick and I along with his sister and her husband went to take some pictures. Courtney wanted to get some maternity pictures for her baby shower and photo album.We had planned on doing the pics on the beach and well... Mother nature had other plans. It has been so rainy and cold here that it just wasn't picture weather for the beach unfortunately.So Friday night I was thinking and thinking of where we could go inside to take pictures. I really didn't want to drive into Jacksonville. Finally I thought about the Ritz Carlton on Amelia island. I know that they always decorate SO pretty for Christmas. So I talked with A family friend of ours who would be taking the pictures and she liked the idea as well. I AM SO GLAD we went there, It was absolutely beautiful and they were so nice about letting us do the pics there. We were really there to take pics of Courtney and Chuck and her preggo belly, But you know I of course wanted A couple of Nick and I... Do you blame me ? The location was gorgeous. So below are some pics, I hope you enjoy them I know I cant stop looking at them. Courtney is now 8 months along and VERY pregnant. We are all getting ready for the arrival of Trace and are SO excited.Nick is doing well,He is still having on again off again back pain,but has continued to maintain his weight. Shortly after Christmas we will be working on getting the application for his transplant put in and hope to start the evaluation soon.Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. XOXO Always

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Catch up

Nick and I on our way to the moviesMy little sister Mackenzie after I gave her A whip cream pieI am officially over summer time and ready for fall. I was running some errands today and I am A windows down,hair in the wind kinda girl. So it was really nice to be able to ride with the windows down and not feel my makeup literally melting off my face.There is so much going on right now it seems as though I am none stop,But I'm not gonna lie I love it.Nicks sister Courtney and her husband Chuck are expecting there first born,Trace in January. We have been on the hunt for A nice place to have her baby shower and found the perfect spot. We decided on A rubber ducky theme so I am really excited about helping with that. Not only do we have that to look forward to but Nicks birthday is coming up. This year Nick and I have decided to have A HUGE birthday bash for him.Since Nick and I have been together celebrating birthdays is kind of A BIG DEAL!!!! As most of you know Nick has Cystic Fibrosis and every year with Nick is truly A gift from God. Usually Nick and I go somewhere for our birthdays but this year we decided to just have a big party. I can tell as It gets closer Nick is getting more and more excited about it. Its gonna be at the same place our wedding was, The Mathis House.We just fell in love with that place when we got married,It is such A great place for A party. We are excited we have a lot of our friends from the Sunny shores sea camp driving up for the party so that is exciting. This past Friday Nick and I went to my little sister Mackenzie's 12Th birthday party. I cannot believe how much she has grown in the past couple of years. I am so proud of her for who she is becoming and what she has accomplished.Mackenzie tried out for the Callahan Middle School volley ball team and made it. We were all really excited about that.For her birthday Mackenzie had A sleepover and ice cream Sunday party. Nick and I were there for about A hour and A half and I just don't think we could have taken A minute more. Later on that night Nick and I had A date night and had such A great time.Sometimes you get so wrapped up in life and whats going on and the negative you don't take the time to be thankful for what and who you have in your life. Nick and I have been so busy and haven't had much time for ourselves so we decided on Dinner and A movie.We saw district 9,I was kinda disappointed.After 15 minutes of aliens running around shooting people I was kinda over it.Defiantly not my kinda movie,The things you will sacrifice :) Anyways I hope everyone is having A great week,We hope to see most of you at Nicks big birthday bash.. E-mail me for details. XOXO AMANDA

SUNDAY SOUNDOFF

Hey everyone,I hope everyone had A great weekend.Nick and I had such A good time together this weekend. This was the first weekend that Nick was off of IV antibiotics. He is feeling so much better and looks great. Yesterday Nick and I had to go to the wedding of Matt and Cassey Andrews. Matt is A friend of ours from high school and Cassey is sweeter than ever and together they make such A cute couple. They truly are meant for each other!!! The wedding was in Madison Fl where Matt and Cassey live now. It was such A pretty wedding and tons of fun.So Congrats to Matt and Cassey!!! I was happy to be home tonight and back to church. This week is A busy week I have tons of homework and lots of fundraising stuff to do for the Great Strides walk.I am not positive about the date but April 16th I think is the night we are going to have A SPIRIT NIGHT at Chilk Fil A . So all you Chick Fil A lovers listen up. Everyone who goes to Chick Fil A on that night between 5:30 and 8:00 and shows them the fl yer I will send out later in the week, 15% of your ticket price goes to the CF foundation in honor of our team. So I am really excited about that and will send out more info later this week. It is going to be at the Chick Fil A in the river City by the airport. Here are some pics from the wedding. Have A Blessed week. XOXO Always Amanda

Love is all you need....

This year Nick and I did something A little different.... Every year Nick and I usually spend the day together and the go out to eat that night for Valentines day. We usually don't buy each other gifts just exchange cards and enjoy each others company. This year we decided to do something different and I am SO glad we did. Saturday morning Nick and I along with his Mom and Dad all went to Callahan. My father in law and I always give blood and what better day to do it then Valentines day... HAHA So we went and donated blood but it was extra special this time. A family friend of ours has A little girl names Callie who has A heart condition. Her and her family have to fly out to California often for heart surgery. During surgery Callie has to get blood transfusions that are quite costly from my understanding. So everyone who gave blood Saturday was giving towards Callie's blood supply for surgery. She got credits for every pint of blood someone gave. So it was nice to be able to give that gift. Then after that we decided instead of just Nick and I going out for dinner, Why not invite the other people we love. So Nick and I along with his Mother and Father, Grandmother and Brother all went out to eat. It was so nice to go and enjoy that time with them. Through them I realize why my husband is the amazing person that he is. It is because of them that Nick is the strong willed,Honest,Hard working and determined man that I love today. To me their is nothing that can make you stronger than being two young parents and raising A child with A illness such As CF. Not only do you have to be strong but have faith. I am so thankful for the person that my husband is. I am so thankful for what he has overcome and the obstacles he will continue to overcome. I am so happy that I too will be able to be apart of that journey with him. I am so proud to be able to call him my husband. I think that with every obstacle Nick and I get through my love and compassion for him only grows stronger and stronger. So this Valentines was so great! I got to spend it with some of the greatest people. I am so thankful for them. I hope everyone had A great Valentines day!!!! I also added pictures from tonights dinner at the parents house.... XOXO Always