Eliza's first birthday..

Well we had a little family type party at the house for Eliza's first birthday. We cooked out and had cake. Eliza was joined by momma and daddy, Mamaw and Granddaddy, Nana and Papaw, Aunt Eden, and Aunt Christan and Uncle Brock. We had a great time. Pictures to follow.

Pig Pickin 2009 and Eliza's Bday

We went to the annual Pig Pickin in Lee County at Kristen's Aunt Judy's farm. They dig this big hole and pile lots of burning wood in it. Then they wrap up tons of meat and bury it over night. Then the next night we eat, and dance. Pretty awesome.

Kristen, Crystal, Christy, and Christan.

Eliza and Momma cutting a rug on the dance floor.

On the way to Judy's farm.

Eliza's birthday cake. With a puppy dog theme.

We sure do love that kid. Next year Daisy Kate will join us.

a post....

Well it has been a while. Sorry to my faithful readers, especially Mary Jane. In the meantime we got a new van. A 2008 Dodge Caravan and we love it. It has built in car seats and tons of room. With two babies anymore it is hard to cram everything in. We think we got a good deal and it has low low miles. It drives really nice. And the best part are the built in car seats. So Eliza has been turned around and despite the look on her face in this picture. She loves it. She thinks she is a queen now that she gets to see everything.



And here is a picture of Eliza and Grandaddy doing their thing. Do you think he minds watching her during the week...we are very blessed to have such family. But I do think they like it...at least a little bit..



In other news I am CPR and first aid certified. Part of the orientation process in my new job. Hopefully I am a last line of defense in that matter. But I think I will like my new job even though I will miss my students. So many have emailed or facebook messaged me that they will miss me this year. But hopefully God has led me here for a reason to help others put their lives back together. Cheers.

Amber's baby..

Kristen's friend Amber had been staying with us because her husband Brad had to start a new job out of town and Amber was still just a bit pregnant. (9 months to be exact). So we have grown to think of Amber as part of the Booth family. Well, on Thursday August 13, little Kaelyn Belle Cary arrived and we all were so excited. So here are some pics.

we are all excited about Eliza and Daisy getting to play with her someday soon!

Eliza in her pig tails and jeans before church. Love that smile.

Eliza's 9 month pics are finally posted. Go to http://www.julierobertsphoto.com/blog/ and scroll down to where it says the Booth family. Once again Julie Roberts has outdone herself.

In the meantime I start my job on Aug 17. Very excited.

Eliza's new pj's...

Love that kid. And come january she will have a baby sister..pretty cool...

Finally...

I am employed. I accepted a job offer at Frontier Health in Johnson City doing mental health counseling. They made a pretty good offer and I think I will like being back in the counseling world. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes and support. I start on Aug 17. I am very glad...and excited....:)

Even more pics

Eliza had some fun at the beach but also at the pool. Love that smile.

She played ball with Mamaw and cousin Ross.

She's a lot of fun...

more beach pics...

gotta love those sun glasses...

Mamaw and Eliza...

there she goes again...

Hilton Head...

Okay, Mamaw Teresa begged us and at the last minute we were able to tag along with her, Nell, Arlis and their cousin Ross for a great little trip to Hilton Head. I have never been before and I must say that I already want to come back. We are on the ocean so it is so easy with Eliza. I can bring her back in give her a quick bath and back to the beach in no time. She sleeps on the beach in this little tent so well. And she shows no fear of the ocean so we definitely have to watch her.



Look at that smile....


she loves the ocean. It is so warm and awesome.



Momma and baby... and baby to be...



Daddy and Eliza.




There she goes...


She loves Uncle Arlis... last night we ate great seafood at this little place. I got blackened tilapia and shrimp it was awesome. We are having a great time. Coming back on Tuesday...Can't wait till next year and have two little cuddle bugs to keep up with...

2 years..

Okay this post is at the approval of my lovely wife and to celebrate my lovely wife. It has been exactly two years since Kristen had bariatric surgery. Many people think this is a cosmetic surgery just to make not eating easier. We considered it after a lot of prayer, and many medical issues including ultra high bloodpressure, and even the possibility of having a baby. Well two years later Kristen has lost 97 pounds and has done so well. Her BP is awesome without medication and we definitely have not had problems having children. I am proud of what she did and how she has adjusted her own wants and lifestyle to her post surgery life. She has done so well.

First I must say that I have always thought my wife to be the most beautiful woman in the world. But I wanted to show some pictures of how far she has come (once again with her permission). The one on the left is from two years ago right after surgery. the one on the right is a recent picture of Kristen.

and here is a recent picture of our little fam....

Can't wait to see our next little cuddle bug as Kristen said she felt the baby kick today for the first time.

jobs...

Well I have my second interview at Frontier on Thursday at 2 p.m. I hope it goes well and not to sound bad but I hope the pay is better than I expect. I realize it is pay and I should be grateful but with another little one on the way it wouldn't hurt to have a little more money. And Kristen and I aren't the best Dave Ramsey disciples. We try, we have no credit card debt but we just aren't paying off our regular debt as fast as I would like. Oh well. In the mean time we are waiting desperately on Julie Roberts to post our new pics of Eliza. Will give the link when it occurs.

jobs and stuff...

Well I found out today that I didn't get yet another VA job. So far I am 0 for 3 but there were 8 people interviewing for my job so it is highly competitive to say the least. I am not too disappointed but I do want a job.

I interviewed with Frontier Health, where i used to work, on Thursday and they practically begged me to take the job. So I guess I am waiting for the lady to call me back for a second interview with the division director which might be next week she said. The pay is about half the VA but I think it will be something I like. So I will wait and see what happens.

Eliza

We just had some new Julie Roberts' pictures taken and here is the one teaser we have.

The fourth of July...

We took Eliza to Mamaw and Granddaddy's on the fourth. We had hamburgers and hot dogs and watched the fireworks. Eliza actually seemed to enjoy them. The loud noises didn't bother her at all. Before we watched fireworks, Eliza went swimming. She loves the water so much.

The zoo..

Eliza, Momma and Daddy went to visit Aunt Katie and Uncle Aaron for a quick trip. While we were there we went to the zoo and Eliza loved the animals.


Eliza wouldn't touch the goat but seemed to like it.


The gorilla came right up to the glass and just stared.



momma and Eliza in her new hat. It was hot.




Aunt Katie, Uncle Aaron showed us around.


Eliza is a daddy's girl....big time..

In other news: A shout out to my loyal readers such as Nell, and of course Mary Jane... and I am sure countless other anonymous souls. I had a job interview on Tuesday at Indian Path and found out via email I didn't get the job but the lady called me back and wanted me to call her. I did but have not been able to reach her.

Had a job interview today at the VA again...and I think it went well but I was one of eight interviewing for the position. Here is hoping that I did well.

still waiting and writing...

Well no official word from the VA yet but I am feeling good about this one. They have checked my references which usually is a sign that they are going to make a job offer. I at least hope so. But even if the lady did get all my references in on Friday, the VA is so slow in making a job offer I still might not hear anything for a while. But I am optimistic.

Trying to write on the dissertation today as Mamaw Teresa is here to help watch our little bug. Eliza is so funny. She loves to clap and sing and loves the song "Chicken Fried" and moves her head to the music everytime she hears it. She is pretty cool. Plus she is crawling big time now. That makes me realize how unbaby proof our house is as she has absolutely no fear. She loves our dogs too and any kind of dog or cat or animal that she sees. She giggles and claps.

waiting on a job...

Well I got a call from Mountain States today to interview for a job as an Outpatient counselor at Indian Path Pavillion in Kingsport. I am interviewing on June 30th. They seemed really nice on the phone. I am still partial to the VA jobs (better pay and benefits) but I will take what I can get. I applied for that one online. I am still waiting to hear something back from the VA. They are notoriously slow.

Other than that me and Eliza are hanging out. She is trying to crawl but mostly seems to go backwards for now and adds a roll in there when she gets stuck. She has pulled herself up a couple of times and really really wants to walk. We watched the CMT video awards last night and we sat with Eliza in the middle of us, everytime music played she danced and laughed and we had the best time ever. Can't wait to take that kid to the Carter Fold...I am blessed. Can't wait to see what little Booth number 2 is like. If it's a girl that will be awesome, if it is a boy that will be awesome as well. Either way our little family is so much fun.

A lot of people try to still your joy saying things like "wait till she walks" or "two is crazy" or whatever. But Eliza is a true gift from God, one I thought I would never see.

Psalm 40 says:
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

I wouldn't trade my years of waiting for one little day with Kristen or this new little bug of mine. Things work out in God's time and so far His seems much better to me than mine.

Booth, Party of four....

Guess who's coming to dinner..around January 9?
Yes it will be Booth party of four. We are right at about 10 weeks but we couldn't wait to tell. The heartbeat is strong at 174. Everything looks good so far.

I am so excited about this Father's day. And I couldn't be more excited that technically I am already a Daddy for the second time. I already love that next little bug just as much. Some of God's best gifts are unplanned...Can't wait.

Now if I could only get a job...:)

We have come a long way...

I know it has only been 9 months but it seems a lifetime ago that we first brought our little cuddle bug home. It is so weird to take a look at these pictures as she seems so tiny and she was eight pounds.

And now we see a little girl who loves to clap, laugh, sing and yes even dance.

we are very blessed...

Hanging with Eliza..

Well I had an interview with the Rogersville VA office on Friday. I think it went well but I won't know anything for a couple of weeks. I have also applied for a few teaching jobs in Sullivan County and one in Kingsport. I would really like to have a job for the fall.

In the meantime here are some pics of the Graduation weekend in Lee County.
Eliza loved Aunt Katie.



our little family.


Teresa in the back and Nell's momma and daddy in the front. and of course Kristen.

Here is a picture of my day. Love that kid.

The Weekend..

We went to Lee County this weekend to see Aunt Eden graduate and Eliza's cousin Ross graduate from high school. We also celebrated Eliza's favorite cousins Jacob and Jessica's graduation from high school. It was fun. We also got to see Mamaw Teresa, Jacob, Jessica, Uncles Aaron and Arlis and Aunt Katie. Eliza loved Katie and would follow her with her eyes when she left the room.

I spent a lot of the weekend working on Mamaw Teresa's lights around her house. Then on Friday night Aaron and Katie cooked steak for us. It was a great late night snack.

On Saturday we went to the first of our graduation parties. Mamaw Teresa threw this party for Ross, Jacob and Jessica. Lots of food, family, and fun.

Then on Sunday after a good meal at the Patio Drive in--Kristen's favorite we went to graduation and watched Ross and Eden graduate.

Eliza was looking to see who she knew at the graduation.





Aunt Eden getting her diploma.



Eliza cheering for her.





Later on Sunday evening at Papaw and Nana's we had a big time cookout with lots of good food and Eliza enjoyed hanging out with Papaw. She even went swimming. She got to see Uncle Josh too and of course loved to smile at him despite the fact he likes the University of Florida. Have no fear although she is holding a diet coke bottle, we didn't let her drink any. It was a fun weekend.