A Long Walk

In a further attempt to induce labor, I have taken two long walks on the treadmill both yesterday and today.  I can go so much further and longer when I'm not fighting the heat.

Yesterday, I walked for 40 minutes.  

Today, Layla wanted to join me.  She hoped right on the treadmill and started walking.  At first, I jumped off the treadmill to let her have a turn, but then I could tell she wasn't leaving any time soon.  We have trained her to walk on the treadmill when its rainy, too hot or too cold outside, or when we don't feel like walking her ourselves so she didn't want to get off any time soon.  So, I joined her.

We walked side-by-side like this for an hour!  

She was such a sweet companion and we were both very happy doing it together!

Now, let's just hope this gets labor going!!!!  I'm ready!!!

Wild At Heart

For the past 12 weeks, Brad has been in a Men's Fellowship small group at our church.  They read the book Wild At Heart by John Eldredge and have a 4 day backpacking hike planned through the Great Smoky Mountains in May to wrap-up their study.

He has loved the study and especially the fellowship of men of all ages.  I am so thankful he has been a part of such a great group! 

In high school, Brad hiked and camped quite a bit with friends and even though it is something he loves to do, it has been a long time since he has done it.  So, in order to get ready for his trip in May, he has been out to Oak Mountain several times to hike with his backpack, and of course, his favorite sidekick, Layla.  I think it is fair to say that Brad and Layla are obsessed with each other!

Here she is riding in Brad's car!  She looks just like a human sitting in the front seat. 

Brad took some great pictures with his iPhone on each of his adventures. 

Layla loves the water and was so glad to finally cool off halfway through the hike the first day!

Also halfway through the hike on the first day was this gorgeous waterfall at Peavine Falls!  I can't wait to go out with them...maybe after baby!?!

Layla was completely worn out after her first day of hiking!  She couldn't even hold her head up on the way home!

Here are a few pictures from their second hike.

The second hike took them around this lake!

And the reward at the peak of mountain was this spectacular view of Birmingham!

I just started reading Wild At Heart myself and it is a great book!  I think Eldredge is absolutely right...men are made for adventure and the wild and women love to have a manly hero in their life!

I can't help but think of the song Cowboy Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks:

"Cowboy take me away, fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue

Set me free oh I pray closer to heaven above and closer to you

I wanna look at the horizon, and not see a building standing tall

I wanna be the only one, for miles and miles

Except for maybe you, and your simple smile"

Did you have this much fun in the snow?!?

Layla loves the snow!!  It makes her go "crazy dog" where she sprints around and around the backyard over and over again!  

"On your Mark, Get Set, Go!"

Whew! That was fun!!

Just a few of our house!  This was some of the prettiest snow I have ever seen!