bringing up bradshaws

Parenting is Hard

2012-01-28T09:15:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful for my husband. I am so thankful for my children. I know this may sound a bit off, but one of the main reasons I am so thankful for them is because they bring out some major sin in me. God uses that man and those little creatures to reveal so much of my ugliness, my selfishness, my desire for comfort and ease, and my outright sin. In doing this, God in his kindness draws me out of my egotistical mindset and softens my heart to realize that I am failing miserably at this job. I get angry, I think about myself WAY too much, I struggle with joy and patience and gentleness. BUT. BUT I have hope and I have forgiveness and I have truth and peace and confidence in a God that is way bigger than I am. Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done. This is not even about the hours of my day or the constant mental thoughts rolling through my mind. This is about heart work and training my babies and trying to communicate things about the wonderful, powerful, grace-filled God that we serve. I am not qualified for this; however, God has so graciously given me these three lives to pour into to. Man, is it humbling.

It can be easy for me to get overwhelmed about the things I am doing "wrong." I know there are better ways of parenting. I know that I need to be more gentle, more patient, less of this and more of that. I can easily get lost in those thoughts and think that my children's future relationship with God, future relationships with me and the world and their rate of success is dependent on how well Jonathan and I parent them. I try to communicate to them about the Gospel, about Jesus' incredible love for them, their need for a Savior and not being able to obey Momma and Daddy by themselves, not being able to be willing to share their toys by themselves. Most days, however, I feel like their stares are blank and that I don't make any sense to them. If it were up to me, they would surely end up confused and hopeless. BUT. BUT God is not dependent on me. Praise the Lord for reminders like these:

"Although we long to be faithful parents, we also rest in the truth that our faithfulness is not what will save our children. Giving grace to our children is not another formula that guarantees their salvation or obedience. Grace-parenting is not another law for you to master to perfect your parenting or your children. Our children will be saved only through the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit, who works at the direction of our faithful heavenly Father. He's the faithful, powerful, soul-transforming One. Yes, he may use us as a means of accomplishing his purpose, but salvation is entirely of the Lord."

"Pure, unadulterated, consistent love for God and pure, unadulterated, consistent love for others is the summation of all the law God has given us in both the Old and New Testaments. Of course, the problem is that we never obey these simple commands. We always love ourselves more than we love God or others. [. . .] We are always more focused on what we want and how we might get it than we are on loving him and laying down our life for others. [. . .]
Even though our children cannot and will not obey God's law, we need to teach it to them again and again. And when they tell us that they can't love God or others in this way, we are not to argue with them. We are to agree with them and tell them of their need for a Savior.
The law of God also hinders our advance toward righteousness because, in our pride, we think that if we just try hard enough or repent deeply enough, we'll be able to obey it. We read the promises of life for obedience and think that means we can do it. The promises of life for obedience are not meant to build our self-confidence. They're meant to make us long for obedience and then, when we fail again, they are meant to crush us and drive us to Christ."

"Give Them Grace" by Elyse Fitzpatrick

For anyone who has a heart and an iTunes account...

2012-01-21T10:48:00.001-05:00

.nothing is wasted.

2012-01-20T10:29:00.000-05:00

The hurt that broke your heart
And left you trembling in the dark
Feeling lost and alone
Will tell you hope’s a lie
But what if every tear you cry
Will seed the ground where joy will grow

And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

It’s from the deepest wounds
That beauty finds a place to bloom
And you will see before the end
That every broken piece is
Gathered in the heart of Jesus
And what’s lost will be found again

And nothing is wasted
Nothing is wasted
In the hands of our Redeemer
Nothing is wasted

From the ruins
From the ashes
Beauty will rise
From the wreckage
From the darkness
Glory will shine

by Jason Gray
Album: A Way to See in the Dark

I'm Addicted.

2012-01-19T23:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, if you haven't heard of this show or seen this show, you must do yourself a favor and GET ON IT!!!! The "show" I am talking about is called Downton Abbey and it's on PBS. It is actually in its second season (the third episode airs this Sunday evening), but I have spent this past week watching all of Season One in my spare time. It is incredible!! If you are fan of Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, or a lover of all things Jane Austen, you will love this series. It's addicting, though, so I must warn you. There are so many characters that I just love, and it is so well written and the acting is so superb that you'll fall in love instantly.

Here's a brief summary: "Exposing the snobbery, backbiting and machinations of a disappearing class system, this series chronicles the comings and goings of the upper-crust Crawley family and their assorted servants." It's basically set in the early 1900s and follows the Crawley family in their estate, Downton Abbey, and the lives of them and their servants.

If you have Netflix, you can stream the entire first season (I speak from experience), but you can also watch online at PBS' site for Downton Abbey.

So, is anyone else a fan? If so, let's chat!!!!

Without God's Word as my lens.

2012-01-19T08:23:00.000-05:00

"The spirit-to-spirit combat I endlessly wage with Satan is this ferocious thrash for joy. He sneers at all the things that seem to have gone hideously mad in this sin-drunk world, and I gasp to say God is good. The liar defiantly scrawls his graffiti across God's glory, and I heave to enjoy God...and Satan strangles, and I whiten knuckles to grasp real Truth and fix that beast to the floor.

It's just that the eyes are bad--my perspective. 'Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body,' Jesus said. 'When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!' (Matthew 6:22-23). If Satan can keep my eyes from the Word, my eyesight is too poor to read light--to fill with light. Bad eyes fill the darkness so heavy the soul aches because empty is never truly empty; empty is only a full, deepening darkness. So this is what it is to be. Eve is the Garden, Satan's hiss tickling the ear, 'Did God actually say...?' (Genesis 3:1).

No Scripture glasses to read what God is trying to write though a prodigal child? Scrawl my own quick editing on the half-finished story: failure. Satan's tongue darts.

Not wearing a biblical lens to decipher the meaning of a doctor's ominous diagnosis? Just read Satan's slippery interpretation: cheated.

Not using anything to bend the light of this world so I can read my own messy days? Spray on another layer of graffiti: worthless.

So I have been ambushed.
Without God's Word as a lens, the world warps."

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
pages 90-91

Lists.

2012-01-14T15:46:00.000-05:00

What is it about lists that is so appealing to me!?

Grocery lists.
To-do lists.
Packing lists.
Reading lists.

I have recently come up with two additional lists that I am going to try to keep running over the course of this year. The first is an idea that I got off of Pinterest.

Now, I haven't actually bought the flashcards yet. And not having the flashcards, I haven't dated them or anything like that. BUT, I have started a list on my cellphone of a memory each day so far this month. I plan to buy some flashcards and date them. Perhaps I will purchase a cute little box to store them in and set on the kitchen table, and I would love to keep this going. Our days are so filled and so busy, but they are also flying by at an unbelievable speed. I would love to look back and see what fun things we've done this year. (Is it just me or is it harder to remember things? I think it's the babies. And pregnancy. And nursing. They suck it out of me. Literally.)

Here is a snapshot of the list I have begun on my phone. Hopefully soon I will gather the materials for the tangible list, but I think it will be good to have my list so easily accessible.

Ok, on to my other list. I mentioned in an earlier post that I am reading a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I know many people have read it or are reading it. I don't want to give too much of the book away to those who would like to read it themselves, but let me give you a quick summary from the inside cover of the book:

"How," Voskamp wondered, "do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?"

A beautifully practical guide to living a life of joy, One Thousand Gifts invites you to wake up to God's everyday blessings. As Voskamp discovered, in giving thanks for the life she already had, she found the life she'd always wanted.

The author is led by the Lord to understand that ingratitude is a major cause for lack of joy and fulfillment in God. She sets out to grow in thankfulness by creating a list of one thousand "gifts" that she finds in her everyday life. These are small things. However, they are gifts nonetheless right before that she was too self-focused to realize where there. I haven't read but a few chapters of the book, but I am gathering that Ms. Voskamp will be challenging me to begin recording one thousand gifts. So, in an attempt to grow in my gratitude and appreciation for what the Lord has given me here and now, I would like to start my own list. There is actually a free iPhone app called "One Thousand Gifts" that allows you to record them and take pictures to document them. Just today I downloaded it and added my first three gifts:

1. A quiet moment to put on my makeup by myself.
2. Sounds of giggles and belly laughs as Liam and Nora play with Daddy.
3. Nora and Liam playing chase together. "Ready. Set. Go!"

These are small starts, but they are starts nonetheless. I look forward to recording the evidences of God's grace in my life in the little things. Do any of you do other things similar to this?

Reading List 2012

2012-01-14T15:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I am going to try this again. This whole "setting goals that I would like to accomplish by the end of the year" thing. I don't know if you recall, but last year I created a very doable book list for myself to read in 2011, and I regret to inform you that I did NOT finish the books on that list. I did, however, read many others! So, is it really that bad? As I stated last year, I am very up and down with my reading. Some months I don't even pick up a book whereas other months I can't help myself. Surprisingly, this past summer is when I read the most, and those were the craziest months for us because we had just had Stella. So, I really have no excuses for not reading more than I do. I do hope to get on the ball and make some progress!

I have a feeling that I will add to my list as the year goes on, but I thought I would share with you the books that I hope to read and reread this coming year.

1. The Chronicles of Narnia

Yes, I know. My head is hung in shame. I have never read the entire collection by C.S. Lewis. I think, I think that i have read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. But, maybe I am just confusing it with the movie that I remember watching as a child. Just before Christmas I ordered myself a cheap paperback book set that contains all of them, and so far I have read The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. And, I must say that I am hooked. I can't wait to begin book three: The Horse and His Boy.

2. Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse Fitzpatrick

I have heard wonderful things about this book and it's impact on those who have read it. Grace is something I need to be reminded of and need instruction on how to portray to my children. I just got this one in the mail and am hoping that maybe a few friends and I can read it alongside each other as a means of accountability to finishing the book. I'm pumped about this one and can't wait to see the fruit of it in our lives.

3. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Again, this is one that I know tons of people have read. I have been hearing about this book over and over just about everywhere. On Facebook, on different blogs I read, from many friends who've already read it. I have just started reading this one two days ago and already I am really liking it. Ann Voskamp is a very gifted writer and tells a very personal story of how God revealed himself to her in a way that changed her life. I've only gotten a few chapters in but my thoughts have already been greatly challenged.

4. Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges

Jerry Bridges is my John Piper. For those of you who don't know, JB is obSESSED with John Piper. Loves him. Reads him effortlessly. Listens to him. I mean, our son's middle name is Piper. Catch my drift? I love Piper too. However, when I read Johnny Pipes, I have to have lots of caffeine, a highlighter, and a dictionary. I usually have to read things a few times to truly get the gist of what he says. When I listen to him giving a sermon, I find him easier to follow, but reading most of his books is good, hard work for me. Jerry Bridges is just as deep and profound of a writer, but I click with his writing-style much easier than I do Piper. He's my fav! Jonathan is currently reading this book called Transforming Grace and is really loving it. He thinks I should read it, so I am putting it on my list. Seriously love me some Jerry Bridges!

Books to Reread:

1. Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

I read this last year right before a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was so beneficial to my spiritual walk to have just read about God's goodness, God's wisdom, and God's sovereignty. I think this is a classic that I will read and read again all throughout my life. I refer back to it often.

2. Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

A definite favorite parenting book. It really cuts to the heart of training and caring for our children.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I read this entire series in an embarrassing fashion. I couldn't put it down! The first book is being made into a movie set to be released this Spring, I believe, and I would like to reread the first book before seeing the movie so I can be refreshed on the plot and see how the book compares to the film. I'm weird like that!

Ok, I am going to stop now. That is a very sizable list right there, and I tend to be an overachiever at making lists. I think this is plenty of material to get me started, and knowing myself, I will be doing well to get half of these read. But, for the sake of throwing it out there, I deep down would like to read a book a month. That's 12 books this year! I have read two so far (Narnia books), and I have started One Thousand Gifts. Maybe I can pull it off with the help of discipline and the Spirit's motivation. I hope that I can grow in the love and discipline of reading, and I truly desire to see lots of fruit from all of the wonderful wisdom these books hold. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to shoot a bow and arrow like Katniss by the end of the year! I kid, I kid.

Quite the Year.

2012-01-02T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have been spending some time thinking back over all that this year has held for us. It's been quite a busy, quite a blessed, and quite a difficult year for our family. By difficult, I don't been bad or terrible. But we have definitely been put to the test, stretched in ways that we've never been before. We experienced lots of pruning and trial by fire, but I think that we have seen the Lord at work in our lives in great ways. For me, this year has been a year of growth in trusting the Lord, letting go more and more, little by little of my own control of life and things and desires for comfort. I have learned to love my husband more, love my children more, and love the Lord more. I have seen how God provides and blesses despite my efforts and in spite of my efforts.

I think this year can best be summed up by the word "perseverance." We have done much persevering through these little years with our little ones. Four year old. Two year old. Seven month old. Our days are very busy, very full, and very fun. The Lord has blessed us with many responsibilities in these little ones. Also, Jonathan has just begun his second year of owning his own practice. He has had to grow and stretch as a leader of several employees as well as making sure he is doing all he can to make his practice successful and productive. He leads our family so well every day. He also leads our Care Group which requires time and commitments and energy to pour into the lives of others that we love. These are all wonderful gifts from the Lord, and we have had such a fun year investing ourselves into all of these things.

This year Nora became a girl right before our eyes. There's no baby left in there, and more and more each day we see her maturing into a young lady. She has such a desire to learn and experience things. She's so curious and insightful. She certainly has a mind like a steel trap, never forgetting anything. She has such a desire to please and a heart to help. Granted, there are days when we see otherwise, but for the most part, she is a wonderful helper and a great big sister. Nora has developed a love for coloring and creating. She still loves her books and reading time, and pretending with her dolls, Barbies, or other toys is still a high priority. I wonder what this next year will hold for our girl? School. Reading books for real. Growing in love for her brother and sister. I anticipate every day with Nora.

This year Liam did so much changing. He was still a baby last January, but now he's nearly three. Just tonight, I sat in the kitchen watching him peel a banana, putting the peel in the trash. He was talking to me about something the whole time he did it. I said, "When did you get so big?" He replied, "I'm big, Mom." Always in that deep, gruff monotone. Then he changed his mind. "I'm not big, Mom. I'm little." (Ok, so when did he start calling me 'Mom'?) Liam went from just barely running and having a paci to a boy that is full-spirited, full-energy, and the character of our family. He has the sweetest heart and the richest personality. He loves to tell knock-knock jokes, kiss his baby sister, and play with his best friend Nora. I think that is probably one of my favorite things about this year: the relationship between my kiddos. It's hard to imagine how much more Liam will mature in the coming year. Maybe he'll be riding his bike? Coloring for longer than 20 seconds? Finally going to bed in a big boy bed? Potty-trained? Oh. It's going to be busy.

Stella is the highlight of our year. The best addition we could have gained. Never has there been a sweeter baby. My sweet potato. She's a respite to her Momma's busy days, and I am so thankful she loves to be held and hugged. Everyone in our family adores her and can't help but smile and welcome her when we see her. Stella will change the most this next year. Surely she'll be walking and babbling and learning how to get into trouble. She'll have her first bruises and love her first baby dolls. She'll probably get into her brother and sister's things and start to drive them crazy. She'll probably test my patience and continue to steal her Daddy's heart. My heart hurts just thinking about how quickly her days have gone by so far.

2012 will surely hold many blessings and wonderful memories. I am also certain it will carry the theme of persevering through busy days. These days seem long sometimes, but the weeks pass quickly. And the years with my kiddos pass even faster.

For myself, I think I have lots of room for growth. Trusting the Lord and letting go of my self-reliance is something I will always need to grow in, but I think over the past few months I have been complaining too much. I need to improve in that area. Already I find myself trying to muster up the resolve to "suck it up" and "be cheerful." But, that is my self-reliance trying to prove to myself that I can do this on my own, in my own strength. I need a heart change instead. I need to grow in my love for the Lord so that there is less love for me. I like myself too much, lately. I like my comfort too much. So, here's to dying to myself a little more each day for the glory of God. May my children love God more in 2012 because of the way I've loved them. May my husband love the Lord more in 2012 because of the way I have loved and served him. May I love the Lord more in 2012 because I have spent more time in His word and at His feet. May it be so, Lord.

Growing Girl

2011-12-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

Stella girl will be seven months in just less than a week! Crazy that she is getting so big. Many changes are taking place with our girl and have been over the past few weeks, so I wanted to document them to remember and for future reference. Hmmmm...where to begin.

First of all, about two weeks ago I quit the dreamfeed cold turkey. I had been meaning to quit nursing Stella before I went to sleep, which ended up being between 10-11 pm. I always have a hard time dropping it for fear that the baby will wake up hungry in the middle of the night. So, I was trying to slowly wean it out when Jonathan looked at me one night and said, "Just drop it!" So, that night I didn't nurse her and truthfully expected her to wake around 1 am. But she slept through until 7 am. The next night she slept about 12 hours straight. To be honest, it immediately seemed like she was doing better without me waking her than when I woke her to nurse. I wonder if I was messing up her sleep cycle or something!?

So, cold turkey it was! I have only nursed her late when we were out and about and not getting home until really late at night. That has only happened once on Jonathan's mom's birthday. It's been at least a week straight and she's been sleeping the best she has in months. Praise the Lord!

Stella has also been stretching her feedings during the day. Her morning nap is at least two hours, sometimes longer...but I've been waking her around 12:30-12:45 pm so that I can be sure to get enough feedings in the day. She nurses at 9:30 am, 12:30 pm, and then the afternoon and evening are still kinda crazy and inconsistent. It seems like she is trying to move to a 3.5 to 4 hour schedule but isn't quite there yet. So, there are more feedings in the afternoon. She also takes a bottle in the evening before bed. I still nurse her before the bottle, but my milk isn't enough to make her happy so we supplement. Since she's dropped the dreamfeed she will typically take a good 4-6 ounces in the bottle in addition to whatever breastmilk she gets. I know she's not exclusively breastfeeding anymore, but she's happier and sleeps better at night which makes for a happier, more sane Momma. She still nurses so well at every other feeding so I don't care.

We have just added a third solid food feeding at lunch time since she goes so long between breakfast and lunch. I usually give her rice cereal mixed with fruit for breakfast, a green veggie for lunch, and rice cereal mixed with an orange veggie plus some fruit or yogurt at dinner. She has also started to like Puffs and is working on her pincer grasp skills. Slowly, but surely. And she is really into table food...much more than my others were. Maybe it's the peer pressure of seeing everyone else eat. I just steamed her some sweet potatoes last night, so I'll cut those up for her to see how she does with feeding herself and eating those chunks of soft potato.

I have also introduced a sippy of water to her. It took her no time at all to do the sucking from the soft sipper and she gets really excited whenever she sees it. She doesn't really get much to drink, but every now and then while she's sitting in her high chair I hand to it her. It's more of a toy at this point! I just feel like my other two were much older when they got into the finger foods and sippy cups, but maybe my memory just doesn't serve me correctly. Either way, there's no denying that this girl is growing like crazy. We love her sooooo much!

Stella Baby.

2011-12-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd post some pics of our precious Stella Baby. She is definitely one of the greatest gifts that the Lord has given us this year.

Tree Decorating 2011

2011-12-21T16:46:00.000-05:00

Decorating our Christmas tree is one of my favorite things to do each Christmas season. I don't like to put the tree up before Thanksgiving, but as soon as possible afterward, I am all about getting into the Christmas spirit. This year we had to wait a little later than normal because we had many things going on, but the second Friday of December was family decorating day!

Our tree is tiny, but it's just perfect for our living room area. Here it is just at the beginning of our decorating.

This was the first year that Liam really got into decorating. He was a great help, although we did have to rearrange some ornaments to make sure every area got covered.

Jonathan was in charge of putting hooks on all of the ornaments.

Of course, we have our favorite stockings hung with care on the mantle. We don't have a special stocking for Stella made by Aunt Hazel, but between Jonathan's mom and I, we hope to have her one made by next Christmas. Hopefully, one us can figure out how to make those sweet, handmade stockings because they are so special to us!

And here is the final look at our tree! You should see it now that all of the presents are wrapped and under the tree!

We also spent some of the day putting lights on the trees and bushes out front. Clark Griswold, also known as Jonathan Bradshaw, decided he was officially tired of the traditional white lights (my preference). Instead, he decided to go with some big multi-colored lights which remind him of the lights he grew up with. I'll have to try to capture the front of the house when it's all lit up! It may not be my favorite, but it sure does make my man super happy!

Can you believe that Christmas is just 4 days away!? Where has this special month gone?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to all of you! We pray your Christmas celebrations are blessed and filled with joy, peace, and lots of love for the Savior. Love, The Bradshaws

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Nora's Ballet Performance

2011-12-15T08:33:00.001-05:00

Last week was the last official ballet class of the year! We had ballet class yesterday, but the girls watched a Ballerina movie and ate cookies. Then we joined all of the other Co-op kids for a big Christmas party. It was so fun. Anyway, last week at her last lesson of the year, the 3-4 year old ballet students had their parents (and grandparents) come and watch their class, which ended with a little performance. It was adorable! Oh, and to make things even better, the girls got to dress up as princesses for their class time. Nora was Rapunzel!

Doing their stretches.

Granna and Geegaw came to watch Nora dance.

Nora with her class and her wonderful teacher Miss Christen. Also, forgive Nora's hair. She had it all fixed in a pony tail with barrettes, but between all of the dancing and the fact that her hair is so fine, it had fallen. One thing's for sure though.....this girl LOVES to dance and LOVES ballet!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2011-12-14T16:40:00.000-05:00

Here at the Bradshaw house we are getting ready for all things Christmas! It's been such a fun few weeks for us. Busy, but fun! Jonathan and I went to the Andrew Peterson Behold the Lamb of God concert. Nora had a ballet performance and a big Christmas party yesterday. We've been baking Christmas goodies like cookies and fudge. And, we've got some other big baking plans in the works. We have a Care Group Christmas party this Friday night and several other things in the next week. Whew!

Look who can sit up (sort of)!

In the midst of all of the busyness, I am trying to spend quality time with the kiddos. To be honest, I have such high hopes of accomplishing so many fun things with them-- crafts, Christmas activities, baking, etc.-- but I am always running out of time! I have to confess that although I love Pinterest, I get so inpsired by the millions of wonderful ideas and hope to do WAY too many things. I keep trying to tell myself that I just can't do everything. There are many, many years ahead of us with our children where we will be able to do more crafts, art projects, baking days, etc. I don't have to do it all this year. I can't do it all this year. And that's okay! So, I am pulling out a few things here and there, and the rest of the wonderful ideas that I am pinning will be stowed away until next year. Or the year after that. Or the year after that.

One thing that I am trying to be consistent with is our Advent Calendar. I feel that Liam and Nora are definitely at a point now where they can understand what Christmas is about (at least on their level), so we have started our very own Family Advent Calendar. I am so excited about this! The kids absolutely LOVE it and ask every day about our special Advent Calendar time. We don't do much. We learn a little bit about the Christmas story each day, open the day's calendar box, they get a small piece of candy, and inside each box is a slip of paper with a fun Advent activity on it. Now, there are some days where we are busy and away from the home, so we'll just double up the next day. But for the most part we've been able to talk about Jesus' birth everyday.

I make the kids sit on the couch, and I sit between then. We are taking the story of Jesus' birth very slowly. Each day we talk about something small, then we review it the next day and add to the story. Liam is doing really well with learning it, although the first few days he couldn't remember anything except that it was Jesus' birthday on Christmas Day and he thought that everyone was named Beth. Jesus' mommy is Beth. Jesus' daddy is Beth. I guess he was getting confused with the whole Bethlehem thing!

On one of the days their Christmas activity was to play with some Nativity finger puppets that I had been given a few years ago. They love those, and I have used the finger puppets to tell the story to them. On Monday we talked about the shepherds and their sheep, and how they were sleeping on a hill when an angel appeared to them to tell them about the birth of Christ. On the finger puppet, the shepherd has a staff so I was trying to teach them what a staff was and how the shepherds used it. I explained that it is the shepherd's job to protect the sheep, so if a sheep is supposed to go down to the river to get some water to drink but it decides it doesn't want to obey the shepherd, the shepherd will use his staff to guide the sheep in the right direction. Last night, we were reviewing what they had learned about the sheep and so I decided to act it out with them. I made Nora be the shepherd and I was the sheep. I told her to give me directions to follow, and I gave her a broom to use as a staff. If I obeyed my "shepherd," then she told me "Good job!" But if I disobeyed and wandered off, she had to use her "staff" to guide me in the way I should go. It was so fun! They would get a kick out of me 'Baaing" and wandering off to snack on the entertainment center or trying to eat the Christmas tree. It was so fun and such sweet memories. This morning, they were both acting like sheep!

Anytime we are riding in the car listening to Christmas music, they notice when songs mention all of the Christmas words: Bethlehem, angels, Jesus, manger, etc. "Mommy, he just said Mary!!!"

It's been so fun. I definitely want to make this a tradition we use every year. It's been so helpful for me, personally, because I've been able to remind myself daily of how miraculous Christ's birth really is.

Here are some of the Advent activities we have done so far:

1. Opened and played with our Little People Nativity.
2. Decorated the Christmas tree together as a family. (THAT was interesting!)
3. Popped popcorn and watched a Christmas movie.
4. Read a Christmas book together.
5. Had hot chocolate and marshmallows with breakfast.
6. Colored Christmas color sheets together.
7. Shopped for our Angel Tree gifts for our chosen child.
8. Had a candlelit bubble bath.
9. Played with the Nativity finger puppets.
10. Had at-home pedicures (this was just Nora and I).


Nora and Daddy watching a movie and eating popcorn. That girl loves to watch and eat popcorn!

I hope you all are enjoying this season as much as we are! I'll be sure to post what the rest of our month looks like later on!

Behold the Lamb of God

2011-12-06T14:55:00.000-05:00

Last night, Jonathan and I went to see Andrew Peterson and friends live in his "Behold the Lamb of God" concert. There are NO WORDS for this experience. It was incredible. It was so edifying, so beautiful, and so powerful. I really do not know if I can do it justice to try to describe it, so if you ever get the chance to see him live in concert, please do!

I discovered Andrew Peterson only one year ago when our church choir sang one of his songs from the "Behold the Lamb of God" album during our Lessons and Carols Advent Service. The name of that song is "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks." I was instantly interested in finding out more about the songwriter. Not long after that, I downloaded a free Andrew Peterson album from Noisetrade. After listening to that album all the way through one time, I was hooked. Now I cannot get enough of Andrew's unbelievable story-telling through song. The Lord has so blessed him musically and with an ability to communicate Truth in such a compelling and beautiful way. Almost every song is a story, and every story makes you hungry for God. Deep, strong stuff.

When I heard he was coming to Knoxville for his annual Christmas concert, I begged Jonathan to take me. I have converted him to an Andrew Peterson fan, so he was more than happy to oblige. Last night we went, and I walked out of that concert with a renewed love for the Christmas story, a renewed love for the Lord, and renewed love for music.

Please either purchase the "Behold the Lamb of God" album or at the very least, listen to the songs on Grooveshark. The album tells the story of Jesus, God with us, from the Old Testament all the way through the New Testament. It's the TRUE tall tale of Jesus come down to earth to save his people from their sins. And he starts at the beginning....the Old Testemant, Genesis.

Stella Marie: Six Month Stats

2011-12-05T12:15:00.000-05:00

This morning, Stella went to see Dr. G for her six month check-up! It looks like she is doing really well and is growing like a little weed. She had her blood drawn today to check her iron levels (looking good!), and she had to have two vaccinations. We are so blessed to have a healthy girl who won't need to go back until she is nine months old. (Side note: I went ahead and scheduled Stella's next appointment for her 9 month visit....in March! Isn't that crazy!? March! That seems impossible to be so close to that time of year).

Here are Stella's Six Month Stats:

Height: 26 inches (70th percentile)
Weight: 15 lbs., 3 oz. (45th percentile)
Head Circumference: 42.7 cm (50-75th percentile)

Just for fun, here are Nora and Liam's stats at six months old:

Nora:
Height: 25 1/4 inches (45th percentile)
Weight: 14 lbs., 5 oz. (25th percentile)

Liam:
Height: 26 3/4 inches (75th percentile)
Weight: 18 lbs, 2 oz. (60th percentile)

It looks like, once again, Stella is somewhere in between her brother and sister!

Here is what life is like with Stella these days:

1. Stella is really starting to enjoy eating solids! I feed her twice a day, breakfast or lunch (depending on our schedule that day) and dinner. She eats rice cereal mixed with a fruit or veggie. So far she has had: pears, apples, bananas, plums, sweet potatoes, squash, peas, and green beans. She seems to enjoy all of them so far. It is funny to me because it has been such a slower process with introducing Stella to foods than it was with Liam and Nora. Honestly, it is just harder for me to fit it into our busy day, but we have gotten in two feedings pretty consistently now, and the doctor told me that she really only needs to eat twice a day at this point. He recommended that we follow her lead as to how much and that over the next few months we should see her eating more food and less milk.

2. Nursing is still going really well, and it seems like we've just recently transitioned to a three hour feeding schedule during the day. (She kind of just started napping longer and stretching them on her own). Stella still doesn't sleep consistently through the night. Some nights, she will sleep from 9 pm to 9:30 am, but that is definitely a rarity. I still nurse her for a "dream feed" somewhere between 10-11, but I have decided that I am going to start cutting that out this week. I'll keep you posted on that. Stella sometimes will wake up around 6-7 am to nurse, but I put her right back to bed and wake her around 9:30 to nurse again and eat breakfast. I love nursing her and am so glad it's going well, but I do wish she would sleep for longer stretches at night. However, I keep telling myself that she WILL at some point, so I am just trying to enjoy my quiet, cuddly nursing time with my girl.

3. Stella will take a bottle! I noticed that once she got the hang of eating cereal off of a spoon, she was less resistant to the bottle. The first few times we tried to get her to take a bottle she would gag. However, she is much better with it now. In fact, tonight Jonathan and I are going to a Christmas concert and are leaving Stella with a sitter and a bottle for the first time! I am so excited! I have left a bottle with Jonathan before while I was at choir or getting my hair done, but this is our first date without our littlest love. I do supplement the 8:00 pm feeding some nights if Stella isn't nursing well. There are just some days where my milk isn't enough for her, so she will oftentimes take an ounce of formula on those nights.

4. Dr. G said that her gums on the bottom look swollen, so perhaps teeth are a few weeks away. She's definitely started to drool.

5. Stella is a rolly polly these days. She has been capable of rolling for quite some time now, but just in the past week, she is a rolling machine. She is starting to understand that she can get places by rolling. Also, just in the past few days she is so wiggly when holding her that it's almost difficult. Mobility is on the horizon!

6. Stella loves her feet, her hands, and anything she can get her hands or mouth on. She is really into toys and gets visibly excited when you hand her something to play with. Her favorite play things, however, are probably Nora and Liam. They just love her and she loves them in return. If the kids are gone from us for any length of time, the moment they get home it's, "Where's Stella!? Hi Stella! I need to hug Stella!" No, "Where's Mommy?" "Hi, Mommy." Hahaha.

7. Stella eats her meals at home in the high chair; we've moved out of the bouncy seat because it's just too hard to feed her in there anymore. She bounces so much that food is everywhere. Also, she likes the Bumbo chair and the Johnny Jump-up. I keep meaning to get the exersaucer out of the attic, but I have yet to do that. I know she'll love that toy when we get it out.

8. Finally, here is a sample schedule of a "typical" day in the life of Stella at six months. We are much more flexible with her than I was with the other two, out of necessity and for the good of us all:

9:30 am- Wakes or is woken up to start the day. Nurses, followed by a little play time and some breakfast (cereal and fruit)

10:30 am- Naptime

12:30 pm- Wakes from nap and nurses. Playtime or we may use this opportunity to run errands. If we are home, I will lay her down for a nap about 1:30, but it's typically a shorter nap.

2:30-3:00 pm- Nurses and goes down for a nap. If we are out during the lunch time hours, Stella usually goes down right away with very little playtime because her wake time is extended while we are out and about. She will take a very good nap in the afternoon usually.

3:00-5:00 pm- Naptime.

5:30 pm- Nurses followed by dinner (Cereal and vegetable)

7:00 pm- Short nap. Sometimes she refuses to go down, but most nights she'll take a 30 minute power nap

8:00 pm- Wakes, nurses, bath and getting ready for bed. (We may supplement with a bottle here occasionally).

8:30-9:00 pm- Bed Time

10:00-11:00 pm- Dream feed. (Which I hope to drop soon).

Stella Baby is Six Months Old!

2011-12-02T13:26:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe, yet it's true. Stella Marie is six months old today! It's so crazy that half of her first year has already passed and that she's been part of our life for that long. We couldn't imagine life without her!

Stella's six month check-up is on Monday, so I'll post after her appointment with her stats and updates on what she's doing these days.

Today, however, our little family is busy decorating the tree and house for Christmas, while Stella watches us. She's got a runny nose and is pretty stuffy, so hopefully she'll get to feeling better before too long.

I better run! Stella has rolled herself onto her belly and is extremely mad about it! I better go help her flip back over. Ciao!

Shaken

2011-12-01T16:23:00.000-05:00

It's been a rough few days in mothering. I feel like the Lord is trying to remind me (once again) how dependent on Him I truly am. He is drawing me into Himself, trying to pull me out of my selfishness, self-reliant, independence. He is trying to remind me that He has given me three wonderful, beautiful children who, alas, are sinners. I, their momma, am the chief of sinners. So, I am trying to cling to the Lord, find my Strength in Him, and fight for joy. I have been listening to a few worship albums by Paul Baloche and have found much comfort, much encouragement, and much peace in them. Here is one called "Shaken."

The lyrics are:

Only a spotless lamb
For a sinner's soul
You gave me a heart of flesh
For a heart of stone
You brought me down to my knees
When I was full of pride
And took away all the places
I could hide
Those You love You will chasten

Everything that can be will be shaken
Everything that can be will be shaken
And only You remain
Only You remain

Wherever my treasure is
There my heart will be
I'm fixing my eyes on things
In the heavenlies
When everything is said and done
And swept away
I wanna be by Your side
In eternity
Those You love You will chasten

No suffering for the moment
Is pleasant but it brings forth
The peaceful fruit of righteousness
Jesus my righteousness

Only You remain
Only You remain

Also, I LOVE the song "To The Cross"

Here are the lyrics for that song:

Where can I go
But to the cross to the cross
For there my shame
You have washed away

Where can I go
But to the cross to the cross
For there You gave
Up Your life for me
You gave Your life for me

You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior
You stretched Your arms out wide
I lift my hands up high to my Savior

So Lord I run
To the cross to the cross
Surrender all to my Savior King
Be my everything

Chains are broken
Shame has fallen
All my sins are gone

These songs and thoughts have been on my heart today. I pray if you feel heavy-hearted too, that they would encourage you and help you to hang on to Christ tighter!

Thanksgiving.

2011-11-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

Oh, where do I begin!?

We had an incredible Thanksgiving this year in New Orleans. It was hard for me to believe, but it had been nearly a year since I was there last Christmas. I try to go home during the holidays and once during the summer, but with having Stella, we weren't able to make the trek this summer. Needless to say, we were SO ready to go down to NOLA for a visit with my family!

The kids did so well on the drive down and the drive back. We watched lots of movies, played with cars and dolls, and made many stops, but we made both journeys safely and soundly. When we got in to New Orleans late Saturday, we were so excited to see Nana and Grandpa!

Thanksgiving week went by so quickly as we were busy visiting friends and family and trying to get to our favorite restaurants. We tried not to overdue the busyness this time, and I think we were able to maintain a good balance of doing exciting things and spending quality time together as a family at my parents' house.


Liam enjoying his breakfast of Cheerios in a "big boy bowl."

On Sunday, we all went to a family reunion/90th birthday celebration for my Great Aunt Adelaide. We ran into lots of cousins and aunt and uncles there, but we weren't able to stay too long because we were all pretty exhausted from the long drive the day before and the kids desperately needed naps. After we got some rest, we went to dinner so that Jonathan could get his first dose of fried shrimp that he was so badly craving! We headed to Mother's in downtown NOLA!

Eating a roast beef po-boy.

Enjoying his fried shrimp.

Cuteness.

On Monday the kids were ready for some activity, so we headed to the Audubon Zoo! New Orleans has the best zoo (at least of the ones that I've been to), and Nora and Liam just loved seeing all of the animals and running around playing.

Checking out the flamingos.

Hello, Love! They were shooting a documentary while we were there and the elephants were being filmed. It was exciting to see all of the film equipment set up, but we weren't able to see much because they were busy.

In the zoo they have these HUGE Live Oak trees everywhere that are probably hundreds of years old. I used to climb these trees when I was a little girl, so it was fun to watch Nora and Liam climb on them as well. I had to get some pictures! Nora was so brave and climbed all the way up one of them and then her Daddy had to climb up to rescue her!

Not as brave as Nora!

After the Live Oaks, it was time to conquer Monkey Hill! New Orleans doesn't really have an hills, so in the zoo they created a man-made hill for the kids to climb up and down on. It looked like fun, so I joined in!

Liam and Nana sharing some lovin'

Here are some random pictures of us hanging out at my parents' house:

Tuesday and Wednesday we were able to see some of our friends. Tuesday morning we met up with my girlfriends Stephanie, Chrissy, and Hope along with their children for Story Time at the mall. Afterward, we ate lunch at Chick-fil-a and then the kids rode the Christmas train! Thankfully, Jonathan came along with me so I was actually able to visit a bit while helping to manage our three kids. Between us four girls we have 10 children! Isn't that crazy!? I did snap a picture of the four oldest girls, but it's on my phone so I'll have to share it later.

On Wednesday, one of my best friends Brigette came to my mom's house for the day along with her two kiddos Eli and Bailey. Here are some pics of their visit:

Nora and Bailey (9 months)

Nora (4), Eli (3), Liam (2.5)

I had an impromptu mini photo session with Bailey in my parents' backyard:

Then Stella woke up and joined the photo party:

Bailey (9 months), Stella (nearly 6 months)

Stella talking to Grandpa before he leaves for work.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving Day and another big surprise. My sister Emily got to come in town for Thanksgiving. Initially she wasn't coming because she had to work Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Friday after. But, Emily's boyfriend Tom talked to my dad and they got it worked out for her to come in late Wednesday night through Friday night. Emily was able to switch work days on Friday with a friend, so we got to see her! We didn't know when we would see her again because we'll be in Knoxville for Christmas and she'll be going down to New Orleans in December for her vacation. I am sooooo glad she came!!!!

Cooking in the kitchen: Emily and Hillary

Thanksgiving night while the football game was on, Nana popped some popcorn and watched a movie with Liam and Nora in the office. The kids loved it!

Ok, my pictures are out of order now. Here are some of my sisters and I being silly:

Back to Thanksgiving morning: Our breakfast tradition for holidays is Monkey Bread. But I made these delicious Sticky Buns for a different, yet similar treat.

My dad asked me to make a Paula Deen cake that he saw on the Food Network, so OF COURSE I had to oblige. In return, he made his famous Seafood Gumbo! I think I got the better end of the deal. However, Jonathan documented my endeavour. It tasted great, but I need to work on my cake decorating skills.....the thing was definitely lopsided.

Me holding my masterpiece: Four-layer Coconut and Lemon Curd Cake.


Ta-Da!

On Friday, we went to our family's favorite po-boy place: Parkway Bakery and Tavern. They have the BEST fried shrimp po-boys and my favorite dish of all time: Gravy Fries. Seriously, Gravy Fries are a meal in and of themselves. I ordered my own because I wasn't going to share! We got there right at lunchtime and it was packed. Here's the line out the door just to order:

Jonathan held a table for us and probably played Angry Birds.

Cutest. Parents. Ever.

Emily and Tom. !!!!!

Hillary- the epitome of cool.

Stella- the epitome of cuteness and sweetness.

Liam enjoying his "Lemon-egg" (Lemonade)

One Happy Man!

Pay no attention to the attractive way I am eating my sandwich.

One heck of a good meal: Large Shrimp Po-boy, Gravy Fries and a Barq's Rootbeer.

Tom's first New Orleans Shrimp Po-Boy


Cuties.

Emily and Tom left Friday afternoon to get back to NYC. We had such a great visit with them, and even though it was only two days, it was such good, quality time. I miss her so much!

On Saturday morning, we got up and packed the kids in the car to head home to Knoxville. It took us FOREVER to get home, but we made it home safely. All in all, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving and made wondeful family memories. God is so good to us and has blessed us beyond what we deserve!

The Things They Say

2011-11-29T16:01:00.000-05:00

The kids are in such fun stages these days when it comes to their vocabularies. Nora is just soaking up new words! She must be more aware of the words that we say day in and day out, and I cannot tell you how many times a day she'll ask me what something means. Sometimes it is hard for me to articulate to her the definition of a word in a way that she'll understand, but I sure try my hardest. Some words that she's started to incorporate into her vocabulary lately include: familiar, splendid, extremely, and absolutely. She doesn't always throw them in there correctly, but she sure is trying! There are dozens more, but of course because I am sitting down to record these words, only those four come to mind!

Liam is such a ham, and his vocabulary increases all the time too! He is in the phase where he says most things correctly, but there are still some words that he mispronounces. I think it's adorable, so I try not to correct him because I know he'll say it right eventually. My favorite word that he says is "Dandy-dowen." Do you have any guesses as to what he is saying?

It's "dandelion." He'll spot a dandelion in the yard and start saying, "Dandy-dowen. Dandy-dowen." Or, if I spot one, I will point it out to him and ask him what it is just so I can hear him say the word. It is too cute and too precious. I would be perfectly fine if he mispronounced it for the rest of his life! He also says "bresis" (breakfast), "I wanna tell you sumpin," "Bullsuh" for "Bullseye" the horse from Toy Story. No matter how many times I try to help him say "bulleye," he can't seem to say it. So cute!

There are so many precious things that they say each and every day, but I don't write it down nearly enough. I need to get better at that!

.....Update.....

2011-11-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

So, I have totally fallen off of the 30 Days of Thanks bandwagon because last week was insanely busy, but I have been taking pictures, and I do hope to start back up soon. In the meantime, I wanted to give an update on Liam's sleeping. I just want to give PRAISE to the Lord for what I believe to be an answer to prayer. My prayers. Our prayers. Your prayers. God's grace and mercy. Shortly after I posted about Liam's sleeping patterns and suspicions of night terrors, things suddenly changed! It started with one night where he didn't wake up. That was HUGE! He woke up once or twice the following night, but then the night after that he slept through. Then he slept all night again!

It's been at least 4 nights since he's woken in the middle of the night. I spoke with him a few days ago in a casual conversation about how when he screams really loudly and shrieks, that it scares Momma and makes her think that something is really wrong with him. I don't know if he understood me, but the past few mornings when he wakes up, he isn't screaming, but is calling for me very calmly.

As far as any changes that we've made that may have contributed to this, all I can say is that we are "trying" to limit how much sugar and chocolate he has a few hours before bedtime. Not that we have candy and dessert every night, but sometimes we do, so we've been trying to cut that out. But, at our last Care Group Liam had a rice krispy treat, a piece or two of Halloween candy, and pink lemonade. As we were putting him to bed, I reminded Jonathan of what he'd had so we both thought we'd be up with him that night. But, we weren't.

Seriously, the only explanation for this drastic change in his sleeping is the Lord. I really believe in God's faithfulness and answering our prayers. So, thank you for your input, your care, and your prayers. I know Liam will have more restless nights and possible night terrors, but I am so thankful for the improvement we have seen. And I know that even on sleepless nights, the Lord will sustain us.

30 Days of Thanks: Days 8 and 9

2011-11-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

Day Eight:

Today I am thankful for Mexican food. Actually, Jonathan and I were able to go on a date, so I guess more importantly, I am thankful for date nights. But Mexican food is definitely a gift from God in my opinion.

Day Nine:

Today I am thankful for the power of God's Word. I only wish I were more prone to run to the Bible than I am. This morning I woke up feeling a bit overwhelmed with all I have on my plate this week, and I could feel anxiety creeping in. Philippians 4:6-7 came to my mind very quickly, so I thought I would post that verse to show my thankfulness for the Holy Spirit who brought it to me in a moment that I really needed it. Thank you, Lord!

Sleepyheads.

2011-11-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

Our nights over here at the Bradshaw house haven't been as peaceful as we'd like them to be! I am pretty certain that I have blogged before about Liam's sleeping trouble and how he's been having difficulty sleeping soundly through the night for about seven or eight months. It's been something that we have been going through for a while now, but instead of getting better, I feel like Liam's sleeping issues are getting worse. Let me explain by giving a little history.

We weaned Liam off of the pacifier last February. He did amazingly well with getting rid of it, and right off the bat he slept great. I was expecting screaming fits for nights on end, but the first week or so it was like a dream. About a month after taking away the paci, Liam started waking at night. My memories have faded, but I think there was some sickness, some teething, and just some two-year-old sleep battles that were taking place, so we didn't really think there was much of a "real" issue with his sleeping. He would wake up sometimes in the middle of the night, and Jonathan would go comfort him to get him to go back to sleep. I was quite pregnant at the time, so getting out of the bed was much easier for Jonathan than me. I was thankful for his help, but it quickly became apparent that we were starting a pattern with Liam that when he woke up and screamed in the night, Daddy would come, cover him up, sing to him, and back to sleep Liam would go. After a few weeks of this and some escalation as to how many times a night Liam was waking, I told Jonathan that I thought Liam just needed to cry it out in the middle of the night. We were less than two months away from a newborn coming, so our sleep disruption would be bad enough without having to tend to Liam as well. We tried that. Some nights it worked, some nights it didn't. I remember a time somewhere in those months where Liam would throw all out fits, with his ear-piercing shrieking screams. We went back and forth...what do we do? do we discipline? how do you rationalize with an almost 2-year old? is he sick? is he scared? is this disobedience or true problems that we need to care for?

So, to make a long story short, we've been battling this for months. Once Stella came, this continued, and she turned out to be an AMAZING sleeper from the beginner. I really feel that was a gift from the Lord because Liam was having more sleep trouble than ever. I don't know that there was a night where Jonathan didn't go into his room at least once, most times just to say, "Daddy's here." He'd cover Liam up and climb back into bed.

Stella is now five months old, and I would say over the past two months or so we have started to think that maybe Liam has nightmares sometimes. There have been a few instances where he's woken in the middle of the night and wasn't easily consoled like usual. I have even heard him through the monitor cry out in his sleep about different things that have made me think he was having a bad dream. This was confirmed when we were in Disney World. Liam slept with us on a pallet on the floor, but there were a few nights that he ended up in between us. He woke up several times on that trip with nightmares, but he was definitely easily consoled by one of us.

Once we arrived back from Disney, we had to deal with getting him used to sleeping in his own bed again. That first night back was really rough....he was exhausted and very unhappy to be back to reality. A few nights ago, I believe that Liam had a night terror. He may have had one of these before, but I've really been trying to pay more attention to what's happening with him at night, and I think what we experienced was much more severe than what we've seen from him before. Liam woke up around 2 am, and Jonathan immediately went to him. His crying was very loud and very constant. I usually am able to fade back to sleep once Jonathan gets up, but Liam's crying didn't stop for about wo minutes. Liam was calling for me, so I went in and found my boys on the floor, Jonathan cuddling Liam and asking him what was wrong. He just kept repeating, "I want Momma, I want Momma." I took Liam in my lap, asked him what the matter was, asked him to talk to us, but he just kept crying and kept asking for me. His eyes were wide open, he seemed awake, but he wasn't really responding to us as usual. This went on for a few minutes, and then suddenly we were able to draw him out of it, he told us he was ready to go back to bed, so we laid him down and left the room.

I went back to sleep, but as I thought about what happened the next morning, I began to wonder if Liam had a night terror. I asked about night terrors on Facebook to see if others had children with them, and many friends seemed to confirm that it sounds like Liam may have them. Do I think that the night terrors are what he has every night? No. There was definitely a distinction in his behavior when he would not be consoled. I think I am going to talk to our pediatrician about it all and see what input he has. In the mean time, I have had several friends recommend that I cut out sugar and chocolate if possible from his diet in the evenings. We'll see if that helps him at all.

Ugh, it's hard. I have to confess that it gets OLD having to go in there. I really struggle with compassion toward him in this area because I don't understand why he wakes up so much. The questions that have run through my mind over the past few months include: Is this an inability to comfort himself? Is this a behavior issue? Does this all stem from us taking the paci away or him struggling to adjust to the new baby and all of the life changes? Is he just spoiled and have we just established a bad pattern that we can't break? Will this ever end? I know the night terrors are legitimate and are something outside of Liam's control. Really, this is just my selfishness at work in me.

I need to be compassionate and caring to Liam, even in the middle of the night. I want to be this way. I know in my head that he won't always do this. I know he WILL sleep again, and so will we. This is part of parenthood, and we are called to care selflessly for our children every day, no matter the situation. I thank the Lord that He has sustained Jonathan and I all of these months. A year ago, having disrupted sleep really affected me during the day more than it does now. God has been so kind to give me energy that I can't explain. Does that mean that I am always kind, energetic, and spunky with my kids? NO. Does that mean that I don't still get tired? Definitely not. But, I know that the Lord is carrying us through this season and that He will continue to give us the strength we need and the ability to care for Liam. I am praying for wisdom on how to handle each night on a day by day basis. I do know that our God is the God of peace and comfort, and that this is an opportunity for us to point Liam to the Lord. We sing "Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" to Liam every night before bed and oftentimes in the middle of the night. I desire that the way we comfort him reflects mercy and gentleness and peace, pointing him toward Jesus.

So, if you have any input or similar experiences, I would love for you to share with me! This is uncharted territory, and I just cry out the God for wisdom. Also, if you would please pray for Liam. We love our little man so much! Thank you so much.

30 Days of Thanks: Days 6 and 7

2011-11-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

Day Six:

I am so thankful for post-nap snuggle time with my babies!

Day Seven:

I am so thankful for being able to be a stay-at-home Momma to my three kiddos. Even on days where it's difficult and I am tired and sleep-deprived, I am so blessed! I would not want it any other way, and I am so thankful for a husband who works so hard to make this possible.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 5

2011-11-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

Day Five:

Today I am thankful for the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am thankful that no matter what I do or don't do, I am precious in the sight of the Lord. My salvation is not based on works, but it is solely based on the grace of God and the death of Jesus Christ. I am thankful that God's mercy on my life is not based on my merit, because I would be doomed. I am also thankful for a husband who often "makes" me sit down to read and study God's word. He is such a precious leader to me.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 4

2011-11-04T15:11:00.000-04:00

Day Four:

Today I am thankful for my in-laws! They are such a blessing to our family and to our children. Just this past night they kept Nora and Liam so that Jonathan and I could go on a date to celebrate our 10 year first date anniversary. They love their grandchildren SO much! We are so thankful for them!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 3

2011-11-03T16:18:00.000-04:00

Day Three:

Today I am thankful for my husband. Ten years ago today, we went on our first date while in school at Mississippi College. Our "story" is one of God's sovereignty and sense of humor, but I am so thankful how the Lord orchestrated our relationship and brought us together. Jonathan is truly the love of my life, my best friend, and the perfect man for me. God has given me a husband who cares for me, loves me, and leads me in a way that is humble and Christ-centered. I am truly blessed!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 2

2011-11-02T10:44:00.000-04:00

Day Two:

Today I am thankful for a good night's sleep. It's been way too long since I've slept through the night, but last night I did! What a gift! Stella didn't wake to nurse, and if Liam stirred in the middle of the night, Jonathan must have tended to him because I didn't hear a thing!

(And yes, I do have quite a few pillows on my half of the bed. I am a lover of comfort!)

30 Days of Thanks

2011-11-01T13:20:00.000-04:00

I've heard of lots of people doing differing activities where they try to express their thankfulness throughout the month of November. I definitely want and need to be better about expressing my thankfulness to the Lord for all that I have, need, and don't deserve. I am a very blessed woman, even when I have rough days and have a difficult time seeing this. So, in attempts to express my gratitude to God, I am going to try to take a picture a day of things that I am thankful for and keep a photo journal of that list. Please join in if you want to!

Day One

This morning was a rough one for me. We didn't sleep well at all, the coffee pot wasn't working, and Liam was being exceptionally cranky and fussy. I was very overwhelmed and discouraged and short-tempered with my children this morning as we tried to rush out of the house for ballet--all fed, all dressed, all alive. However, after a time to cool down, ask forgiveness, and take it easy, we are back to peace (for the moment). I am thankful for these two HUGE means of sanctification in my life. And I love when they "ride the jet ski" together. I am thankful for the sweet moments where they play together so well and so sweetly. Thank you, Lord, for Nora and Liam.

On the Web

2011-10-28T17:04:00.000-04:00

Here are some things that I've been enjoying on the Internet lately. Just some things that I thought I would share to hopefully brighten your day:

1. Pandora: I know this website has been around for several years now, and it is probably SOOOO 2009, but I have really been enjoying it on my iPhone while riding in the car. Here are several stations that I've been listening to over the past few months. Check them out:

-Andrew Peterson radio station
-Waterdeep worship radio station
-Adele radio station
-The Civil Wars radio station
-Brian Regan radio station

One other thing I want to say about these Pandora stations is that Jonathan and I have come across some really great new artists by listening to these stations. We'll be listening to something and are intrigued by a song or artist, so we've broadened our music listening even more! Love it!

2. Pinterest: Almost everyone is on board with this new website, and I must say that I absolutely LOVE Pinterest. I usually only get to browse it while I am nursing Stella, so I am glad that I downloaded the Pinterest app for my iPhone. I have come across TONS of great recipes (many of which I have actually TRIED!), some great decorating ideas, craft and fun activities for the kids, and much, much more.

3. I am really trying to do some planning for this coming Christmas season, and I have really had a desire to start implementing some new family traditions. One that I want to start this Christmas is an advent calendar that I do with the kids, including learning about the Christmas story and fun activities to go along with that. So, I've been doing lots of searching online for great ideas in this regard. I thought I would share some websites I've found in case you want to look into them:

Confessions of a Homeschooler's Advent Activity List

Advent Gift Boxes

Tons of Christmas Ideas from I Can Teach My Child

Christmas Countdown including a breakdown of the Christmas Story in the Bible

I am planning to put a few ideas together to personalize our Advent calendar, and I am sure I will come across more great ideas as the season approaches. Next on my list is to find an Advent calendar. I am trying to find one with the little boxes you open up, so if you know where I can find one, please give a shout out!

4. When the Milkshake Runs Low is another article by Rachel Jankovic on the Feminagirls.com website. Rachel is the author of Loving the Little Years, a book about motherhood and having young children that I read recently. She is such a gifted writer and such a blessing to mothers who can relate to having lots of little ones around, fighting for joy and wisdom.

That's all for now! I'll try to share some of the awesome recipes I've come across on Pinterest soon!

Great Preschool Website

2011-10-24T11:43:00.000-04:00

I have been using a preschool website that my momma (a 1st grade teacher) recommended. It's called Boggle's World, and it is actually an ESL website. I have been printing off some ABC worksheets for Nora (& Liam) to color. Nora likes them a lot and they have many worksheets for each letter of the alphabet to practice with....some uppercase, some lowercase, some for practicing tracing letters. Just wanted to share!

Click on this link: http://bogglesworldesl.com and search around for all kinds of preschool fun!

This Morning...

2011-10-21T11:04:00.000-04:00

....I am enjoying having my dear friend (and former next-door neighbor) Anne and her son Dillon in our home. They are passing through town and spent the night with us. We have enjoyed cups of coffee, lazy breakfast-making, and lots of conversation this morning about the trivial and significant.

....My children are playing with a dear, precious little friend.

....I am anticipating being reunited with our Care Group family. We missed our last one because we were on our way to Disney World, so it's literally been a month since we've been with everyone. I can't wait until tonight.

....I am loving the cooler, Fall weather that is in effect right now. In fact, last night was so cold I had to drag in my newly planted mums so they wouldn't freeze and die.

....I really need to go to the grocery store. Seriously. I am out of butter, coffee creamer, juice, and a plethora of other things. I do have peanut butter, so we're not hopeless yet!

....I can't stop thinking about the book Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic. This little, yet powerful, book has really effected me in ways I didn't even realize. There are some really helpful and thought-provoking things in the book that I keep coming back to. I can tell this is a book I will read through often as a mother of many little ones. Check it out!

"The discipline does work. We are making progress with our children. And if you have been faithfully repenting of your own failures and looking for chances to grow, you are making progress too. You might feel just as tired, but you are now running ten miles instead of two blocks."

....Stella is officially rolling from her back to her belly. Sweet thang!

Praying your morning is going well and that are aware of the precious, sweet grace of God in your life today!

And So It Begins....

2011-10-19T16:27:00.000-04:00

Someone has been trying to roll over for a few days now. In addition to this, someone keeps waking up in the middle of the night. Like, many times. She was having a growth spurt, I believe, a week or so ago, but just today I came to the realization that Stella is practicing her rolling skills IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!!! I think she keeps waking herself up in her attempts to roll over, but she's not happy with being on her belly once she gets there. Since she hasn't quite mastered how to roll herself back, so thinks I must wake up to help her. However, I haven't figured this our because I am in a lack-of-sleep-induced coma when I get up.

So, after Stella wakes up from her nap, I am going to sit her down for a little chat. Rolling practices must occur during the day. Surely, she'll understand my reasoning! Right!?

Also, I need to talk to her about growing up too fast. I don't like this one bit!

The Happiest Place on Earth

2011-10-18T16:23:00.000-04:00

Well, we finally bit the bullet! We took the kids to Disney World last week. It's been a plan in the works for several months now, and now we are back, resting up from our crazy, memorable, and fantastic week in Disney! Nora discovered about a year ago that Disney World is an actual PLACE, not just the store in the mall. Ever since then, her interest has been growing and she's been asking to go see Cinderella's Castle. However, we weren't sure we were quite ready to take three kids 4 years old and under to such a busy (and expensive) place. But, we did a little bit of research, came upon some great deals, and decided to book our vacation.

We told Nora and Liam the night before we left. For the past few months whenever Nora would ask about going to DW, we would tell her that we needed to save up money for tickets because it cost money to go. So, she has been "saving" her money in her purse....she's gotten some money for her birthday and several friends and family have given her a dollar here or there to go toward her "ticket." So, the Thursday night before we left, Jonathan came home with about five dollars in cash from the girls in his office. We told Nora to go get her purse so that we count the money. When we counted all of the dollar bills and coins, Jonathan told her that she finally had enough money to buy a ticket to Disney World. Then, he told her that we were going to go and that we were leaving the next day! It took about two or three minutes for the magnitude of what he was saying sunk in, and then....she wouldn't stop bouncing off of the walls. Liam was just excited that he was going to be staying in a hotel!

Jonathan had to work most of the day Friday, so Jonathan's parents took the kids and drove half way. When Jonathan got done at the office, Stella and I picked him up and we drove to meet up with the rest of the crew. We woke up the next morning and finished our drive to Orlando. That Saturday, it was POURING! We had to unload the cars in the pouring rain, and we were just praying that our entire week there wasn't going to be a washout. That first night we were there we took a bus to the Magic Kingdom to show the kids Cinderella's Castle from a distance, and we rode the monorail to The Polynesian where we got some supper. After that, we went to bed so we could be well rested for our upcoming busy days.

Sunday, Day One: We woke up to more rain! But, everyone was so excited to be there! We had planned a character lunch at Hollywood Studios to eat and meet with the characters from Playhouse Disney. Agent Oso, Handy Manny, and The Little Einsteins were there. The kids really enjoyed getting to meet everyone, especially June from The Little Einsteins. (When she finally came to our table, Liam hugged her and just stayed hugging her for at least a minute. He has a thing for girls with dark hair!) After lunch, we got to see more characters like Tigger and Winnie the Pooh, Mater and Lightning McQueen, and Chip and Dale. The kids were beside themselves! The rain finally stopped and the weather turned out to be beautiful the rest of the day! One of my favorite rides of the entire trip was in Hollywood Studios. It was the Woody/Buzz Lightyear ride and it was AWESOME! I highly recommend it. Mid-afternoon, Liam was exhausted, wet, and ready for a nap, so Mr. Paul took him back to the room while Nora, Jonathan, Ms. Joyce, Stella and I rode some more rides. Nora rode the Tower of Terror and LOVED IT! She was so brave! We ended that night by eating at the restaurant at our resort. We stayed at Old Key West, and the restaurant there is called Olivia's. Nora was awarded the Artist of the Day award, and her artwork (color sheet) was displayed in a special spot and she was awarded a certificate and a balloon.

Monday, Day Two: Gorgeous weather...no more rain! Praise the Lord! This was our first day at the Magic Kingdom! In my opinion, the Magic Kingdom has the most to offer for small kids. There are tons of characters to meet, but there are so many rides that Nora and Liam could go on. When we first entered the park, we saw an opportunity to meet "The Princesses!" This was Nora's whole purpose in being in Disney, so we waited for over 45 minutes to meet Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty. Nora was speechless! Seriously, she was so shy upon seeing them. I would feed her things to say, and she would repeat them, but I think if I wasn't there prompting her that she would have totally frozen up. It was precious! We made lunch reservations at the Liberty Tavern. The food there was AH-mazing! All of the adults got their pot roast and mashed potatoes, and it was DIVINE! Definitely try to eat there if you haven't been there....YUM! Again, Liam got tired by the mid-afternoon, so Mr. Paul took him back, allowing Nora and Jonathan to ride lots of rides that Liam couldn't go on anyway. Mr. Paul and Liam came back after a nap to meet up with us and ride a few more rides. While in the Magic Kingdom that first day, Nora rode Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, It's A Small World, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more. She was having so much fun and wasn't afraid of anything. After each ride she would ask to ride it again! Jonathan was having so much fun with his little playmate! We stayed at the Magic Kingdom until they closed that night, then headed back to the room to rest.

Tuesday, Day Three: We headed to the Animal Kingdom. This was our hottest and most humid day in Disney World. By this day, also, Nora had been going for four days nonstop, so I could tell once she woke up that she wasn't feeling like her usual, happy self. Our day in Animal Kingdom didn't last as long due to the combination of those things. However, they really enjoyed it. We saw the Nemo show, ate lunch, and then headed to Dinoland where they have a large outdoor playground called The Bone Yard. It's a gated playground with slides, caves, water fountains, things to climb on, and fossils to dig for. Liam was in heaven! We let the kids run around and play in there for at least an hour and half, and they would have kept going had we let them. It was just right for us that day because there were no lines to wait in...they could just run and play with a bit of freedom. We got some frozen icees, some popcorn, and rode a dinosaur ride before heading home for a nap...for everyone. That night, instead of going out to dinner or hitting up another park, we played in the big resort pool...which was awesome. They had a gigantic water slide which we got to go on several times, and the kids got to experience a hot tub for the first time ever. It was a good day, although different from our other days there.

Wednesday, Day Four: Epcot! I just love Epcot! It's so fun and interesting to me, and the layout of Epcot makes it feel less crowded than the other resorts. I also think less families with young children end up at Epcot. The kids got to ride a Nemo ride while I fed Stella, then we ate lunch in Mexico (at the Cantina there), then we rode the Mexico ride two times.....it was cool, quiet, and entertaining! Can't lose! We rode a few more rides there (Test Track, Figment, and some others I can't remember right now), and then we headed BACK to the Magic Kingdom. There were many rides we hadn't been able to get to the day we were there earlier in the week, and Liam hardly rode any rides there since we spent so much time meeting characters. So, Liam rode Small World, the Carousel, saw Philharmagic, and the Tea Cups. Just as it was getting dark, Liam started getting exhausted, so Jonathan's parents took him home to clean up and play at the room. We finished up a few more rides and grabbed some hamburgers. Just as we were about to leave, we caught the fireworks show. We tried to beat the crowd out of the park, but MAN was it crowded! All in all, we got to do and see most everything that we wanted to. It was such a great time!

Stella was a DREAM the entire trip. Seriously, the girl cried like three times the whole time. She didn't sleep that great while we were there, but I cannot complain. She is such a wonderful, sweet, content baby girl. I am so thankful to God for her. I carried her most of the time in my baby carrier. It seemed like every time I would strap her in, she would instantly fall asleep. I felt like a Momma Kangaroo!

We loved where we stayed...the Old Key West! So much character, such nice accommodations, the perfect space for our crew.

Jonathan's parents.....they were great! I am so thankful that they came with us. The kids really enjoyed them being there, and they were so helpful. It would have been nearly impossible for Jonathan and I to handle the three kiddos by ourselves in Disney World, especially with me having to nurse Stella every 2.5-3 hours. Jonathan said that we probably won't go back until our youngest is four years old. Nora did great and hardly complained about anything the only trip, but for Liam, he didn't really understand the reason behind the lines and the waiting. All in all, it was a good practice at patience while we were there! HAHA!

We had such a wonderful family vacation. I am so thankful we were able to go and had a great time. We made some fabulous family memories.

For the record, these pictures are from my point-and-shoot camera. I wasn't about to take my big camera to Disney....I had WAY too much to carry around anyway, and I didn't want anything to happen to it! So, please forgive the poor picture quality! Also, please forgive the sporadic order of pictures....I don't how that happened.

I Just About Peed in My Pants....

2011-10-15T21:11:00.001-04:00

Love Me Some Liam.

2011-10-07T11:26:00.000-04:00

October is HERE! Bring on the Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-06T11:54:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. In years past, we have always ventured out to the Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls, TN, but I heard great things about another one a bit further out in Corryton, TN. Then, to make things even better, this pumpkin patch had a great deal on Groupon for discounted tickets, so we got in on that and decided to make a family day out at Oakes Farm on the first of October! What a great way to start off the new season. Last minute we invited some of our good friends to join us, but only the wives and kiddos were able to make it. Since Thomas and Robert had other obligations, Amy and Layla joined us along with Johanna and all of her little ones. It looked hilarious with Jonathan being the only husband. We joked that we were the Sister Wives of TN! (Please know we are kidding!) Anyway, we had a great time and made some fun memories.

The day was gorgeous, but it was so cold and windy. We were experiencing an unseasonably cold spell, and when the wind blew it was frigid. However, we bundled up and enjoyed the spurts of sunshine. Oakes Farm is awesome and has so much to do. We took a tractor-pulled hayride to a giant field where all the kids picked pumpkins. They also had tons of kid activities like inflatables, slides, a petting zoo, and huge sandpiles for the kids to play in. We packed our lunches and enjoyed a beautiful picnic outside with some of our favorite people!

Stella Marie: Four Month Stats

2011-10-03T15:19:00.000-04:00

It's pretty funny seeing us at the doctor's office. Somehow we managed to arrive at Dr. G's a bit early today....not quite sure how I managed that, but I am thankful! Nora and Liam were very interested in Stella's appointment today, so they pulled up a chair to the patient table and observed everything that the nurse and doctor did. I love our pediatrician's office and their staff...they know us very well after all of these years!

Here are Stella's four month stats:

Weight: 12 lbs., 14 oz. (50th percentile)
Height: 24.5 inches (55th percentile)
Head Circumference: 40.1 cm (35th percentile)

Stella seems once again right in the middle as far as weight/height comparison to Nora and Liam. At four months, Nora weighed 11 lbs., 13 oz., and was 24 inches long. Liam at four months weighed 15 lbs, 11 oz. and was 25.5 inches long.

So, what's life for Stella like at four months old? Well, let's see:

Eating: Stella nurses every 2.5-3 hours during the day. I usually start her day at 9:30, unless she wakes earlier than that or if we have somewhere to be (church, ballet, etc.). She'll eat around noon, 2:30-3:00 pm, between 5-6:00 pm, and then before bedtime around 8:30. I also still have her "dreamfeed" between 10:00-11:00 pm. On occasion, Stella will wake up in the middle of the night for a feeding. I would say that she probably wakes up 2-3 times a week for this, but it's definitely not every night.

Naps/Sleeping: Stella is getting better at napping for longer lengths of time. Just this past week, she showed some consistency in napping longer in the afternoon. She takes a 1-1.5 hour morning nap around 10:30 am (after about an hour of waketime), then she takes a shorter nap after lunch, and then after her middle of the afternoon feeding and playtime with Momma, she'll nap for a good 1.5-2 hours (on a really good day). Sometimes she wakes early from a nap, and I try to let her cry herself back to sleep. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't, but I do feel that overall naptimes are making progress. At night, as I mentioned before, Stella CAN sleep from 10:30 pm-9:30 am. She doesn't always make that long of a stretch, but she does it pretty often, so I know she is capable.

Bedroom: Stella is still sleeping in our closet. She has a crib in Nora's room, but I just haven't moved her in there yet. I said I would at two months, but I put it off. Now I am saying I'll try it when we get back from our vacation, but we'll see if I manage to come up with an excuse for that one. It's just that she sleeps so well in the closet. It's dark, quiet, and away from the chaos of the kids when they are awake and she's napping. It's convenient and easier for me, so I am not ready to fight that battle yet. One day, I will, but I'm just not there yet.

Bottle: Stella hasn't officially had a bottle yet. Ever. A few weeks ago, this realization hit me that I hadn't introduced a bottle to her, so a few times a week I'll offer her a bottle with some formula to see if she'll get used to it. We haven't made much progress, but the first time I offered it to her she completely gagged on it and refused to suck at all, and now she'll take a few swallows. So, we are making baby steps! I am in no way trying to push this on her or wean her, but I would just like to know it's an option if necessary. So, we'll have to keep working slowly on this!

Playtime: Stella is so content. She loves to play on her playmat, the bouncy seat, and the Bumbo. She'll also swing very contentedly, but it's not her favorite. She loves her hands, and I keep wondering if perhaps she'll eventually find her fingers or thumb and take to sucking that instead of a paci, but so far, they are just her playmates. She has started rolling to her side, but she doesn't roll all the way onto her belly or from her belly to her back. We've been doing more tummy time, and I can see her making progress here. She can definitely support herself and is getting more comfortable with longer stretches, but she definitely prefers her back.

Poop: (Warning: this is about POOP. If you aren't interested, STOP READING!)
So, we're in a weird place these days with Stella's pooping. It started about two weeks ago when Stella suddenly went a 5-6 day stretch without pooping. I was starting to get a bit worried after that many days, but she finally pooped after much (STANKY) gas. Well, today makes 9 days since that last poop. 9 DAYS! At the doctor today we talked about it extensively and he didn't seem the least bit concerned. Stella is very content and is still eating and sleeping well. She is rather gassy and STANKY, but she seems okay and isn't seeming to be in any discomfort. Dr. G says Stella must be an efficient eater. She doesn't overeat and must not waste much of what she does take in. He said that if we still have not seen poop by 14 days that we may need to reevaluate, but he said to let it ride for now. I am also to make sure that her poop consistency is softer than peanut butter (I know, this is graphic. Sorry.) I'm not really concerned, but I will feel better when she goes to the bathroom, poor baby!

Clothes/Size: Stella is wearing most 3-6 months clothes. Depending on the size, some 6 month stuff is too big, others it's just right. She is also in a size 2 diaper these days. Growing like a weed, she is!

That's about all that goes on in this little one's life these days. She's busy with the rest of us trying to keep up with this crazy, busy family of five. We love our little love bundle! She's such a blessing and the sweetest baby. We love you, Stella!

Big Day for Stella Girl

2011-10-02T15:41:00.000-04:00

You see this girl here? She's four months old today! WHAT!?!?!?!?!

I can hardly believe myself when I say that! Where has the time gone?

Wanna know something else really cool? Exactly one year ago today, we found out we were expecting Stella. We had gone to the pumpkin patch with our Care Group that day. On the way there, I had to stop for a Sprite because I was feeling nauseous. I suspected that I might be pregnant, but Jonathan was skeptical. We had just decided to stop trying to get pregnant because we were about to purchase the dental practice and knew an insurance change was going to take place. We definitely wanted me to be covered for our pregnancy, so we decided to wait a few months. But, lo and behold, we got pregnant anyway! That confirmed to me that the Lord had given us this precious baby.

I took a test midafternoon on October 2nd, 2010. I swore I saw a faint pink line, but Jonathan said I was imagining it. So, I waited until the next morning and took another one. He couldn't deny that pink line the second time. We were definitely pregnant!!!! A roller coaster ride the first few weeks of my pregnancy soon gave way to a wonderful nine months of waiting to meet our precious daughter. Stella Marie joined us a few weeks early on June 2nd. And here she is now....FOUR. MONTHS. LATER.

Seriously, I don't think there is a sweeter baby. And, seriously, I don't think we could love her any more.

Tomorrow is her four month doctor visit, so hopefully tomorrow I will write a post with all of her current stats and what life is like for Stella these days. Until then, I am going to go squeeze this little one until I can't stand to do it anymore.

Liam's New Habit

2011-09-30T17:21:00.000-04:00

On days that we are home in the morning (which is most days), Nora and Liam have "room time" where they play independently in their rooms for about 30-45 minutes. Over the past few weeks, Liam has started to do this:

Actually, the pictures I took this day were early on in this new activity. One day, he emptied his ENTIRE toy box into his bed. I guess he has big plans for naptime! Silly, crazy kiddo!

Sassafras

2011-09-22T10:47:00.000-04:00

Here's my little Sassafras. Just up from a nap.

Instagram Update

2011-09-20T15:40:00.001-04:00

It's definitely been a while since I dumped the pictures off of my cell phone onto the computer. Looking back now, there were so many cute ones of the kids from weeks back that I wanted to share. Here's what's been going on with us the past few weeks as told through the lens of my phone camera:

What's better for breakfast than Cocoa Puffs? Not only are they healhty (ahem, yeah right!), but your milk turns into chocolate milk! One of Nora's favorite special treats for breakfast.

Jonathan and I went on a date last week to Bravo where I got this delicious spicy shrimp pasta. Divine!

Someone is now big enough and has enough head control to sit in the Bumbo seat! Where did my little newborn go?

I know this is blurry, but with moving toddlers and babies all over the place, it was impossible for me to capture a good shot. We met our very close friends, The Webbs, for dinner last week at Cracker Barrel. Dalyn and Jonathan were residents together and we became super close. Then they had to move to NC for a few years, but we hope they are able to move closer back to Knoxville within the next year. We love the Webbs! Dalyn, Jessica, Finley and Landry!

Many a morning, Liam is the first kiddo up, so he and I will snuggle on the couch watching Mickey Mouse. I love my snuggle time with my sweet boy.

Liam and Nora can't help but love Stella. They love to "play" with her on her playmat. Such sweetness!

Yesterday, we ended up on a spontaneous nature walk at a park near Campbell Station. We met JB's parents for lunch and then had some time to kill, so we thought we'd venture out to the park. The kids had a blast! Here's Nora dancing with a statue of a bear.

Here's Liam taking a break during our hike to sit on a stump. Liam had so much fun collecting acorns. His pockets were jammed with all of the "goodies" he found along the way. Then, he got to throw them off of a bridge into a creek. Every.boy's.dream.

Look at this smile! While Nora and Liam nap, I get some sweet one-on-one time with Stella. We play and snuggle and get in some tummy time. I love having just a few quiet moments with just her. I don't know if it is possible for me to love this baby girl any more. Anyway, I can get a great smile out of her, but she has yet to laugh out loud!

Our family weakness: Sonic. We go there at least once a week. Grape slushies and Cherry Coke slushies are my current addiction.

We've also been enjoying the more fall-like weather. We have spent many evenings on the Greenway walking/jogging with the kids in the stroller. They love to ride and then get to play at the playground when we are done.

Can't believe this girl is four years old!

Watching the rain....we've definitely had some rainfall in the past few weeks.

Speaking of rain....a few weeks ago now, we had some MAJOR rain. It was Labor Day, now that I think of it. Jonathan's office building had some considerable damage from the rain and water was coming in pretty heavily over his operatories. Here's a terrible picture of what it looked like once they got some tarps put up to try and protect his equipment. Thankfully, he is now able to work in all of his operatories, but there are still some things that need to be taken care of. Stressful week that was!

Going back a ways now. My mom came in town for Nora's birthday party. Here she is holding Stella Bella after cooking us a delicious fried shrimp dinner. She's the best cook!

The kids are really into coloring and markering these days. Here they are showing off some of their artwork.

There are no words for this boy! Here he is wearing Stella's hairband. Silly boy!

Soccer

2011-09-19T15:53:00.001-04:00

Guess who's playing soccer this fall!?

Last week, Nora had her first soccer practice and scrimmage. She is on a four-year-old team this year, which is basically an introduction to soccer. They learn basic skills and scrimmage the other players on their team. Next year, if she keeps with it, she will have actual games against other teams. So far, she is loving it! Also, Jonathan is one of her coaches. He played for many years as a boy, so he is really excited to be out there with her. Should be much family fun this fall as we spend lots of time on the soccer field!

Blessings of a Smaller Home

2011-09-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

So, I guess I haven't updated that we have officially taken our home off of the market. We put it up for sale last February, hoping to sell before Stella's arrival, but after six months with no offers and a dwindling market, we decided to wait. As Liam says, "It's hard to be patient!" I was torn (and still am, for that matter) about staying put where we are for right now. I am thankful that we don't have to deal with house showings, open houses, having to keep the house spit-spot all of the time, and having to gather up three kiddos within a moment's notice if a realtor happens to call for a last-minute showing. It was a lot to deal with around the time that Stella was born, so when we took the house off of the market, I was able to breathe a deep sigh of relief.

On the other hand, we really would like to have more space. Even typing that makes me grateful for what space we have. We are more cramped than we'd like to be, but really, we are doing just fine. I think for me it's just a struggle with contentment and gratefulness with what we have. I like to think about what I would like to have compared to what we do have. I like to compare our house to what others have, which only heightens my discontentment. Some days I am thankful that I don't have more space to keep up because--just being honest--it's all I can do to keep some sense of sanity in the space that we have. I know that more house means more work, so in this busy season of having three little ones, I am trying to remind myself that less is best for now.

A few weeks ago, I came across a blog post on this very subject on Passionate Homemaking. The title of the article is "The Blessings of a Small Home." It was just the reminder I needed to hear to be thankful for where we are and some great reasons why. I trust that in His perfect timing, the Lord may bless us with a larger home. But, I think God keeps reminding me that a new house is not where I will find happiness. I don't need a new house; I don't deserve a new house. I am blessed beyond measure with what I have right now. And if it was better for us to be somewhere else, that is where we would be. I trust in my Sovereign, my Good, my All-Knowing and All-Powerful God! I just have to keep reminding my sinful, selfish heart that He knows better than I do!

Interview with 4-Year-Old Nora

2011-09-16T15:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago (around the time of Nora's 4th birthday), we were sitting around the kitchen table coloring. I have read on several peoples' blogs where they interview their children on their birthday each year, asking similar questions each year, and record what the kids say. It is always so interesting and cute to hear what the birthday boy or girl has to say, so I thought I would start that tradition with my kiddos too! So, borrowing some questions from some friends, here is my interview with 4-year-old Nora:

What is your favorite thing God made?
Food.
What type of food is your favorite?
Chick-fil-a. And Old McDonald's. And Wendy's.
What is your favorite animal?
Giraffe. And ponies. And unicorns.
What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is pink and yellow.
What is your favorite day of the week?
Monday. Because that's the way that I like it and it's fun.
What is your favorite thing about Liam?
I love how he talks and I love him how he shares with me.
Tell me something funny about Liam.
His deep sound. When he says, "I love Stella."
What is your favorite thing about Stella?
I love how she talks and how she kisses me.
Do you like having a brother and a sister?
Yes!
Why?
Because I like how they talk and I love them very much.
What is your favorite thing about Daddy?
He's my favorite guy. We read books, color with him.
What does Daddy do with you that is special?
We ride my scooter.
Tell me something funny about Daddy.
He makes a funny face. (She showed me how he does it.)
What does Daddy do all day?
Goes to work.
What kind of work?
His office. He works on people's teeth.
What is your favorite thing about Mommy?
I love how her hair is colored and her shirt is pretty. I love her because she smells good.
What does Mommy do all day?
Clean the dishes and wash the laundry. Take care of Stella, Nora and Liam.
What is your favorite thing to learn about?
I like to learn about creation.

What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is the Rapunzel book.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I'm not going to grow up. I'm just going to stay four.
I want to be a woman.
And do what?
I don't want to be a grown up. I just want to stay four.
What is your favorite thing to do with the family?
Read books.
What is your favorite activity to do?
To learn about the bible.
What's your favorite thing about the bible?
Mary.
Why Mary?
(Silence).
What kind of things do you like to color?
Princess things.
Who is Jesus?
Our Help. He's a son.
Who's son? God's son.
What does he help us do?
Share.
Anything else?
Have fun.
What did Jesus do?
He take care of us and he loved us. (epiphany) He died!
He's the Lord Jesus Christ.
What do you think its going to be like to be four?
Have a birthday and clean up.
What are you excited about doing now that you are four?
Jumping high in the sky.........(short pause)......
I think that is enough now.

To be honest, she wasn't all that interested in being interviewed. At first she was answering all excitedly, but she quickly got tired and wanted to resume coloring! It'll be fun to compare this to what she has to say next year!

Stepping Heavenward

2011-09-15T16:41:00.000-04:00

I just had to get up from reading and share with you about this book. I started reading it last Sunday, and any chance I get, I pick it up to read. I am absolutely loving this book and am so challenged by reading about the journey of this woman from a young girl of sixteen who is so clueless about a true relationship with God to a wife and mother who through suffering, hardship, and true life learns what it means to be a daughter of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seriously, I have highlighted about half of the book. I think this will be one of my all-time favorite books that will be read over and over!

If you have not read it, I would highly recommend it. Here are a few quotes that I just can't stop thinking about:

"If there is any one truth I would gladly impress on the mind of a young Christian, it is just this, that God notices the most trivial act, accepts the poorest, most threadbare little service, listens to the coldest, feeblest petition, and gathers up with parental fondness all our fragmentary desires and attempts at good works. Oh, if we could only begin to conceive how He loves us, what different creatures we should be!" page 68

"The more I pray and the more I read the Bible, the more I feel my ignorance. And the more earnestly I desire holiness, the more utterly unholy I see myself to be." page 90

"...I shall now have one more mouth the more to fill and two more feet the more to shoe, more disturbed nights, more laborious days, and less leisure or visiting, reading, music, and drawing. Well! This is one side of the story, to be sure, but I look at the other. Here is a sweet, fragrant mouth to kiss; here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery. Here is a soul to train for God; and the body in which it dwells is worthy all it will cost, since it is the abode of a kingly tenant. I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer to them all, to whom, while I minister in Christ's name, I make a willing sacrifice of what little leisure for my own recreation my other darlings had left me. Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mother's heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, her tenderest cares, to her lifelong prayers! Oh, how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!" page 228-229

Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss

Signs of Growing Up

2011-09-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

Liam is growing up so much. His vocabulary and language skills keep improving, and it is so fun to have conversations and hear him say fun things. At the same time, it's a little sad! Things that he would say that were so "baby-ish" are now turning into full, complete sentences with correct pronunciations and inflections. It's a sign that our little man is growing up! Here are some things he is saying:

For the longest time, when Liam wanted to be held he would lift his arms up and say, "Shood you." That was his way of saying, "Hold me." "Shood you" eventually transformed into "Shood you me." "Shood you me, Momma," was something I heard countless times a day. Not too long ago, my mother-in-law said to me, "My heart broke today." Why? I asked. "Well," she said, "Liam walked up to me in the kitchen just a few minutes ago and looked up at me and said, 'Hold me, Granna.'"

It wasn't "Shood you" or "Shood you me." It was "Hold me, Granna."
Some precious things he says these days that are special to me:

-"I fix bresis" (breakfast)
-"I play with your phone for a second?"
-"Good Mawnin', Stella!"
-"That a little one." (In reference to spankings. He likes to tell us when they don't hurt him, silly boy!)
-"Sing 'Deep'" (He loves to sing "O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus")
-"What you talking about, Willis?"
-"I do it."
-"Pway with me." (Play with me)
-"I wanna show you sumpin."
-"I show you a cool trick."

This boy blows us away with all that he says....I could spend all day thinking of something funny or silly or surprising that he says. He is growing up so fast! Liam loves to get a reaction and a laugh, so many times he will say something that will cause us to laugh and even though he has no idea what he is saying, he'll start repeating it because he gathers that we thought it was funny.

Having a boy has definitely been a learning experience as he is totally different in many ways from Nora, but there is such a sweetness and tenderness in Liam that is just priceless. For example, the other day Nora had her first soccer practice/scrimmage. Liam, Stella and I watched on the sidelines while Nora played and JB coached. After her practice, the first thing Liam said to Nora as he put his arms around her was, "How was your practice, Nora?" He did that all on his own! He is such a sweetheart!

So, there's a snapshot of Liam and his expanding vocabulary. I will try to be better about recording more of what this crazy, silly boy is up to these days. For they surely are going by so quickly!

Nora Kathryn: 4 Years Old

2011-09-12T14:58:00.000-04:00

Well, Nora turned four years old a short while back, and today was her 4-year well visit with Dr. G! It's hard to believe that our girl is FOUR! One year away from starting school, old enough to dress herself, big enough to have some household "chores," mature enough to ask some deep, compelling questions. Four is a very fun age! Nora is such a great helper to me and to our family, and I see how much she loves her brother and sister in the little ways she cares for them. Anyway, more on what's she up to in a minute. For now, here are Nora's stats from her appointment this morning:

Weight: 34 lbs. (55th percentile)
Height: 39 7/8 inches (75th percentile)

The nurse commented that Nora seemed tall for her age, which is funny because one of her best friends, Layla, is super tall, so I never consider Nora tall. I'll have to try to compare her to other kiddos. Wonder where she'd get the tall gene from? Neither Jonathan nor I are tall, but my dad is over 6 feet!

Just for comparison, at three years old, Nora weighed 29 lbs and was 37 1/8 inches tall. So this year she's gained 5 lbs and grown over 2.5 inches. Crazy!!

This next year will be an exciting one for Nora. She's signed up again for ballet, which she loves, so she'll continue to have lessons once a week with another recital in the spring. We have also signed her up for a 4 year old soccer program called the Mighty Mites. Jonathan is one of her coaches, and everything starts tomorrow evening. We are so excited! We've bought her some cleats, shin guards, and her very own soccer ball. I can't wait to see what she's like out there on the field! Will she be competitive? Clueless? A bird watcher?

We are not doing official preschool with Nora this year, but I am trying to work with her each week at home. We are currently trying to do a letter a week where we work on recognizing each letter and learning their sounds. She can recognize all of her letters, for the most part, but there are only a few sounds she knows so far. We've also been working on her tracing skills, cutting skills, and glue skills. Some things we do include:
*cutting things out of magazines and pasting them on construction paper.
*work in some preschool workbooks that I've bought that focus on numbers and basic math skills, tracing the alphabet, and other preschool skills like matching, sequences, similarities/differences, etc.
*I made homemade alphabet "flashcards" and she likes to play a game where I scramble the flashcards on the floor and she has to find them and put them in the correct order. She's getting much better with that!

Another book I have started going through with the kids is a fun family workbook/coloring book called "The 21 Rules of this House." It's a really neat parenting/family book I came across a few years ago that helps you teach your children just some basic Christian principles. Most of the principles are rules already implemented in our household, but it's good to put them into words and phrases that we can talk about and use as a reference point. Some of the rules include:

*We obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
*We obey our parents.
*We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
*When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
*When someone is sad, we comfort him.
*We take good care of everything God has given us.

Each "rule" comes with a coloring sheet that helps the kids understand what the rule is. It even has a big printout of all of the rules that you could hang up in your house somewhere, but we haven't done that. Anyway, we aren't very far into it. We've just talked about Rule 1 for the past two weeks, so we will probably move on really soon.

Nora also likes to play on the computer with some educational websites such as Starfall.com. My mom is a first grade teacher and has given me lots of great links for educational websites that I'll have to share if anyone is interested in printing stuff off for their kids or anything like that.

Nora loves to ride her scooter around the neighborhood. She can ride her bicycle with training wheels very well, but we've been trying to teach her to ride her balance bike, but she won't get on it. We don't want to force the issue, but I hate that we bought this bike that she won't use! Hopefully we'll get one of the kids to get some use out of it!

This summer has really shown Nora to be an improved swimmer. She took swim lesson in early June and after much working with her in the pool, she can now swim by herself without a life jacket, and she can put her face in the water and come up for air while swimming. She's definitely a little fish!

Princesses, Barbies, and her Calico Critter house are Nora's favorite toys to play with. She's still really into books, but I'll say that pretending has taken over more than her "reading" has. I can't wait until she's really reading and when we can read great, classic books together!

Every day, Nora seems to be growing more mature and more wonderful. I cannot believe she is four! We love her so much and look forward to the continued work of God in her life this next year. I pray that Jonathan and I grow in our dependence on the Lord for how to nurture her and raise her and care for her. We are so blessed to have Nora Kathryn as our first daughter!

Came to My Rescue

2011-09-03T11:05:00.000-04:00

Just being honest, it's been a rough week this past week parenting-wise. I love my kiddos so much, but sometimes I get overwhelmed by the constancy of tending to a four-year old, two-year old, and three-month old. It's a very busy season, but such a precious season. I am so thankful for the time I have with them, almost every minute of every day, but I get very impatient at times and don't do a great job of displaying kindness, gentleness, and patience. It's like I know in my head the kind of mother I want to be all of the time, but because of my sinful heart I am not that mother. God has been showing me that I am completely dependent on him to be the Momma that brings him glory and shows Christ to my kiddos. I have been very aware this week that I can't do this job by myself.

While driving in the car yesterday, I was listening to Pandora and found myself listening to a familiar song: "Came to My Rescue" by Hillsong United.

Here are the words:

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours
My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and I,
I wanna be where you are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

The words "My whole life I place in your hands. God of mercy, humbled, I bow down. [. . .] I called, you answered, and you came to my rescue and I want to be where you are." That's my prayer. My whole life, my kids' lives, their hearts, their salvation, their attitudes and behaviors, their education, their relationships with each other, my relationship with Jonathan, my chaotic house, my relationship with You.....I give it all to you. I know in my sin I'll continue to take it back, thinking that I can handle it when indeed I cannot, but right now, I am going to choose to let go and give it to you. Help me to keep doing that. Give it up, give it you. It belongs to you, anyway!

"Chagganoota"

2011-08-22T16:47:00.004-04:00

Well, we did it again! We embraced the desire to be spontaneous and adventurous. On Friday afternoon, after the kids woke up from their naps, we loaded up the minivan and headed to Chattanooga for an overnight. We had such a good time! Jonathan mentioned the idea to me last weekend, but we didn't officially decide to go until Friday morning. I spent most of Friday cleaning and packing, and after naps we got on the road. Chattanooga is only 1.5 hours away, but there is a bridge under construction which added a long bit of sitting in traffic, so it took us longer to get there. We were hoping to check-in at the hotel and then find somewhere to eat in downtown Chatty, but with all of the traffic, we decided to make supper simple, so we stopped at a Chick-fil-a. After that, we found our hotel, unloaded our stuff, and headed out!

The kids were thrilled and so excited to be in "Chagganoota." I just love it when they mispronounce things...so cute! We walked to the pedestrian bridge where there is an awesome ice cream place called The Ice Cream Show. Then, we took our yummy treats to the bridge to look at the beautiful view! The kids loved the bridge. Liam liked the big nails that line the floor because he thought they were "money." He kept trying to pick them up (they are about the size of half-dollars). Nora and Liam just ran and ran, so we ended up having to play Red Light-Green Light to keep them from running to far away from us. After about thirty minutes of running, we decided to head back to the hotel to get prepped for bed.

Keep in mind, this is the first time since Liam was a baby that we've been in a hotel room all together. We weren't sure how Liam would do not sleeping in his crib, but he had a blast sleeping with his daddy. I think Jonathan had one of the best night's sleep that he has had in a while because Liam actually slept instead of waking up all hours of the night screaming hysterically. (That's another post). Stella slept in the pack-n-play, and Nora (also known as Wiggle Worm) shared a bed with me. I am so glad we did this because the kids exceeded my expectations and slept great.

One fun thing was that we were staying very close to the Baseball Stadium and there was a game going on that night. Just as we all got tucked into bed, the game ended and there was a fireworks show. We could hear the fireworks going off, so we got the kids up and opened up the curtains and were able to watch the entire fireworks show from our hotel room! It was great! Liam definitely liked to watch that. What a special treat!

The next morning, we got up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and packed up our stuff. Then, we headed to Rock City which is actually in Georgia, not Tennessee. I didn't know that! The kids really enjoyed it, and so did Jonathan and I! It was beautiful, although my only complaint is that our tour guide was a bit speedy for me. I would have liked to take it a little more slowly, but when the guide is an almost four year old, you just have to keep up!

After Rock City, we found a local place to eat lunch and then we rode the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. It was just okay....definitely not worth the money, in our opinion. If you are ever in the area, you can drive up to the top of Lookout Mountain which is probably what we would have done had we known. But, it was fun and a neat experience for the kids. By the time we got back, it was mid-afternoon and the kids were getting pretty tired, so we decided to head back home. After a quick pit-stop at Dairy Queen so the kids could enjoy their first Blizzards, we took a scenic route so we could avoid the construction traffic we encountered on the way down to Chatty.

I hope that we take advantage of having Chattanooga so close! There is so much to do! It's definitely one of my new favorite places.

Commercial

2011-08-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

So, it's Monday morning. I am in my pjs and robe, nursing my second cup of coffee. The kids are still in their pjs, and we are just slowly coming alive. We had a busy weekend celebrating Nora's 4th birthday as a family of five. Right now, I have neither the time nor energy to post about all of our adventures, but I hope to do so very soon. So, consider this my commercial, advertising things that are to come!

I have to tell you about our last minute overnight trip to Chattanooga.

Our fun day at Rock City.

Nora's 4th birthday and all that is going on in the life of this little, wonderful girl.

Exhausted after a busy, fun day!

But, laundry awaits, suitcases must be unpacked, beds must be made, errands must be run, and babies must be cared for. Till then!

A Day Trip to the Smokies

2011-08-18T10:11:00.000-04:00

I like order and planning. I like to know in advance what things are going to take place. I like to have an agenda and help to make that agenda pan out. I like to think that I am spontaneous, but sometimes I just am not. Jonathan, on the other hand, likes to do things spur-of-the-moment. It's not that I don't like to, it's just that with three kiddos, it takes a lot to get out of the house. There are feedings to plan around, meals for the other two, naptime, lots of packing to make sure we have what we need, and it usually just takes time to go anywhere. It's just the nature of having three small kids under 4. But, I do have a desire to just "let go" sometimes and get going!

So, that's exactly what we did the other day! Jonathan ran a 5k last Saturday morning, and when he came home, he said, "What do you want to do today!?" I knew the answer he was looking for did not include the word "clean" or "organize" or "task." This man had fun in mind. He quickly came up with the idea of packing a picnic and heading to the Smokies to hike or go swimming at the "Y." ("Y" as in a "y" in the road/river, not as in the YMCA). So, at approximately 10:00 am, we decided to go! We packed some clothes and swimming stuff, threw together some lunch and snacks and drinks, and loaded up the kids. I am so thankful that Jonathan pushes me out of my comfort zone, to embrace fun and activities that may not be "easy," and is right there to help me!

We ended up stopping at the "Y" in Townsend to eat, and the kids were having so much fun that we stayed there all afternoon. We ate random lunches, the kids skipped their naps, and we just relaxed. It was wonderful! A much needed family time, and I am so glad that we did it. It was much better than any plan I could have come up with at home. Thank you, JB, for planning a fun and spontaneous day for our little family.

The perfect napping spot for Stella. She snoozed almost the whole time we were there.

Checking out the surroundings.

My feet propped up, holding Stella, and reading a book while the kids played in the sand.

Our picnic spot.

Playing in the sand.

There was a large cliff just in front of where we were that everyone was jumping off of. I asked JB if he was up for it, and of course, he was! He still has it in him. Here are a few shots of him jumping off!

It was a perfect summer day! I love that we live so close to the mountains and can actually take these trips. If only we did it more! Here's to more spontaneous days in our future!

Stella Marie: Two Month Stats

2011-08-17T13:16:00.000-04:00

I know it's a bit late, but Stella had her two month check-up this morning. She'll be eleven weeks tomorrow! CRAZY! Anyway, she did so great at the doctor's office and had to get her first round of vaccinations. Here are her two (and a half) month stats:

Weight: 11 lbs., 2 oz. (55th percentile)
Height: 22.5 inches (60th percentile)
Head Circumference: 38.9 centimeters (60th percentile)

In the past month, she has gained 2 lbs, grown 1.25 inches, and her head has grown 2 centimeters. What a busy month for our little one!

Just for a fun comparison, here is what Nora and Liam weighed and measured at two months:

Nora: 9 lbs., 14 oz. and 21.75 inches long (20-30th percentile)
Liam: 12 lbs., 5 oz. and 23 1/8 inches (60-75th percentile)

Stella seems to fall somewhere in the middle of her brother and sister! I think she looks like a chubby Nora! Everyone says that she looks just like Nora, and we all agree. It's so cute and kind of weird to have two little girls that look so much alike.

Can you tell who is who?

Stella's Birth Announcement

2011-08-16T14:13:00.000-04:00

Sleepy...

2011-08-15T15:12:00.001-04:00

Well, we have had lots of developments in our house in the sleep area. Stella has been sleeping great the past three nights. She's been extending her night sleep, so it seems that since her growth spurt she's been able to go longer at night without needing to eat. For example, I nursed her at 9:45 last night and put her down, and then she didn't wake again until 8:15 am this morning!-----------

I started that post one day last week, but then got interrupted and was unable to finish it. So glad I didn't because what is stated below is anything BUT what we're experiencing here. Last night was one for the record books!

Stella is still sleeping pretty well. She gets fed somewhere around 10 pm (give or take 30 minutes) and is down for the night. The past four nights, she has woken around 5:00 am for a feeding and then goes right back to sleep. She was going for longer stretches, even not waking at all until 8 or 9 am, but that seems to have halted for now. I have been working on getting her down earlier in the evening. I try to have her asleep by 9 pm, then I wake her for the "dream feed" before I go to sleep somewhere in the 10:00 range. I was hoping that maybe she was dropping that early, early morning feed, but so far she's still holding on to it.

Liam is having some major sleep trouble. It seems like Stella is sleeping better than he is. He wakes in the night at least once every.single.night. This started months back when I was still pregnant. I wasn't easily able to get out of bed, so Jonathan would get up and go check on him and comfort him every night when he cried out. I don't know if we've ruined him by doing that or what, but it seems to have been getting worse the past few weeks. He wakes up most nights about 3-4 times. He's not hurt or sick or needing anything, he just wakes up crying out. Sometimes we let him fuss it out, and he'll go back to sleep, but sometimes he wakes up and won't stop until he screams at the top of his lungs which causes us to have to go in to calm him down.

Last night, he started the waking up around 10:30 pm. He would just cry softly for a minute or so, then fall back to sleep. The problem, however, is that he did this off and on until 3:00 am. Jonathan was having trouble sleeping anyway, so he was checking on him occasionally in those several hours, but at 3:00 am I was so exhausted and over it. I know that Liam has been cutting some molars, and this long span of waking last night seemed much worse than usual, so I got up and gave him some Ibuprofen and water to see if maybe he was in pain from teething and needed some relief. After that, he finally fell asleep until 8:30 am this morning. So, maybe it's teething. Maybe it's not. Who knows?

Anyway, I just have to remind myself that our little ones are only little for a few years. It won't be long until they are teens and we are BEGGING them to wake up at a reasonable hour. Until then, we are trying to catch as many restful moments as possible.

On a positive note, here is a precious video of Nora and Liam loving on Stella one morning last week. They get so excited when they see her in the morning and consider this "playing with her." This baby girl is so loved!

Captured.

2011-08-07T10:34:00.000-04:00

This morning, the kids and I are at home while Jonathan is at church. Nora has just recovered from a fever virus that has lasted the past 3-4 days, so we are staying put to make sure she doesn't spread what she's had. While the kids are at play, I thought I'd take a second to right down what I love about each of my babies today. There are things that they say or do that just overwhelms my heart with love and affection and gratefulness. These things change from time to time, from day to day as they grow and expand their knowledge of life and all that this world has. So, here is what each does right now that just captures my heart:

Nora: I just love Nora's love for play and imagination. She is really into her dolls and Barbies these days. She loves to pretend, giving them names, creating scenarios as they interact, etc. She's been going through a phase where she really wants others to play pretend with her, but as she is in her room at this moment, I can hear her playing well by herself, giving the different dolls different voices. Liam went to stay with Granna and Geegaw the other day while Nora was at the peak of her sickness. He was gone about 24 hours, and even though I doubt she'd admit it, she missed her little brother. Yesterday they played so well together and really enjoyed each others' company. I cherish the moments when they love being together and put fighting aside to just have fun. I also love Nora's love for coloring and markering and doing "school." She loves to learn, but on her own terms (which may be an issue when it comes time to have real school).

Liam: I love how sweet this boy is. He surely is a handful and gets into everything, but he has the most tender heart. He cannot help but love his two sisters, and it is especially seen in how he interacts with Stella. I love how Liam is learning new phrases and using them, even though he has NO IDEA what he is saying. The two phrases he's using these days are: "I understand" and "I don't care." He'll just randomly use them or put them together, such as: "I don't care, Momma. I understand." He has heard them used and knows that we say those words, but as to what they convey or how they are used, he doesn't know or care. I am learning that Liam is a clown, a ham. He does things to get a reaction, good and bad. Just give him a hint that you think something he does is funny and he becomes hooked on that thing.

Stella: Although this little one is limited in what she does, we are totally smitten with her. Just last night she was sleeping across my chest before bed, and it hit me that just 9 weeks ago she was still in my belly. Just a little peanut. But now, she's been with us for two months and has changed tremendously. I love her smiles, and I know this is selfish, but it just melts my heart because I think she really knows who I am, that I am her Momma. She gives me smiles freely, and though it is a small thing, I am trying to enjoy every single one of them.

Lastly, one thing I want to remember right now is that Liam loves the song, "Oh the Deep, Deep Love." This song was sung at Amy and Andrew's wedding, and after the wedding anytime we would play that song, Liam instantly knew it was from the wedding. Now, he asks me to sing it to him when I put him to bed. I sing the chorus to him, over and over:

"Oh, the deep, deep love
All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus."

Such simple words, such a simple tune. However, if I teach my son (and daughters) nothing else, I hope it is that. All they need and all they should trust is the love of Jesus Christ. I pray God makes these words ring true in their hearts one day. Until that day, we are sowing seeds.

The pictures in this post were taken by the FABULOUS Lillian Prince. Check out her work at lillianprincephotography.com

Nine Week Growth Spurt

2011-08-06T11:07:00.001-04:00

Well, it appears that our little Stella is having another growth spurt. I think she had one around week 5 or 6, but that one wasn't nearly as obvious as the one she is currently going through. Starting on Thursday, I noticed that she was eating much more at each feeding. I think she nursed on both sides for every meal. Early Friday morning, she woke at 5:00 am--which is much earlier than her "usual"--so, I fed her then, woke her for the day at 9:30 am, and we nursed every 2.5 hours all day yesterday. Again, she nursed on both sides each time throughout the day. Stella also slept nearly all day yesterday. She usually doesn't take a great nap in the morning (only about 45 minutes), but she slept for nearly two hours. Even in the evening when she usually is restless and not taking great naps, she slept very soundly. That definitely confirmed to me that she is/was growing. Last night, I nursed her at 11:00 pm, then she woke at 1:30 am and 5:50 am to eat. Both middle of the night feedings she ate vigorously, but only on one side. This is very unlike her sleep habits, so all signs point to a growing girl!

It seems that our girl is definitely needing to eat more so that she can keep growing! I document this purely for my own information and future use (if needed), but perhaps it can help any of you who are questioning if your little one is experiencing a growth spurt, too. I know that it looks different for every baby and that growth spurts occur at different times for each child.

Have I mentioned that I think my baby girl is getting too big too fast? This growth spurt isn't helping me deal with how quickly she is changing. Slow down, STELLA!!!!

Goodbyes.

2011-08-04T08:20:00.000-04:00

"Goodbye. See ya later. It's been fun!"

If you and your kiddos have ever seen Yo Gabba Gabba!---hands down, the weirdest show on television---then you may be familiar with the song that they sing at the end of their show when they say farewell to a friend. My kids (Liam, in particular) love that show and anytime someone leaves our house, they walk them to the door or to their car singing that silly song: "Goodbye. See ya later. It's been fun!"

Unfortunately, we will have to be saying some serious goodbyes to our very close friends/next-door neighbors in a just a few short days. Anne and Matt and their son, Dillon, will be moving to Indianapolis next week where Matt will be starting a new job. Words cannot describe how much we love this family! When we moved into our house, they were already living next door. I was six months pregnant with Nora, and the only people we knew in Knoxville were a few couples we had met at our church. A few months after we moved in, my Mom was in town (I think Nora was a newborn), when she met Matt and Anne outside one evening as they were walking their dog. Anne had just found out she was pregnant with Dillon and she was a bit overwhelmed at the surprise. I vaguely remember running into Anne that night, but little did I know how great of friends we would become.

Over time, we started talking with them more and more. When Dillon was born, Anne and I would have chats about new baby stuff. As the babies grew, we started hanging out more, especially in the spring and fall when we would take long walks through our neighborhood. We share supper together all the time, have ice cream parties in the front yard, and cook out together! Our friendship has really grown roots in the four years we've lived in this house. I know I can always call Anne to ask for a cup of milk or a few diapers, or just to talk about my day. She's brought my daughter to swim lessons, and I've run out to get them Gatorade when a terrible stomach bug struck their whole crew. We talk about God together, how to train and raise our children, our dreams and goals, and everything in between. They are truly a gift to us, and we are so, so happy for them as they pursue a new life in Indianapolis. However, we are really going to miss our dear friends.

We have talked already about planning a family vacation with them. In fact, we hang out so much that we've created a name for ourselves: The Walshaws. (A mix of Walworth and Bradshaw). Dillon is like a brother to Nora and Liam, and my kids feel like Miss Anne's house is an extension of their own home.

I don't know what we'll do when they are gone! So many nights have been spent with them whether we are walking the neighborhood, hanging at the pool or playground, or eating popsicles in the driveway. They are such a source of comfort to us, and I am so thankful for the friendship Jonathan and I have found in Matt and Anne.

Here are a few pictures I snapped the other day when we hung out in our backyard. We are trying to soak up as much time with them as we possibly can:

Dillon: Always styling. Always prepared.


Dillon's blue Crocs: A summer staple.

The kids (usually) play so well together!

"It's hot, Momma."

Trying to get Dillon to pose for me:

Love this precious face!


I love her curls in this picture! Her hair is getting so long and when it's wet, it gets wavy like this.

On Wednesday, our precious friends will be moving on to all that the Lord has in store for them. We are excited for them as they move on into such an exciting time of their lives, but we will certainly miss having them just a few feet away. We love you, Walworths!

Stella Marie: Two Months Old

2011-08-02T16:32:00.000-04:00

Well, today Stella Marie is two months old! I cannot believe how fast time is going with this little one. She is getting so big, so fast. Before we know it, we'll be giving her baby food, she'll be sitting up by herself, and we'll be sending her off to college. We really enjoy our little one. She has the sweetest disposition and is just a precious girl. God knew exactly what we needed in a baby, and He gave us such a gift in Stella. Here is what she's up to these days:

Nursing

At eight weeks, Stella is still an amazing nurser. She eats about every 2.5-3 hours during the day, and at this point she most days eats only 7 times. Occasionally during the evening hours she will be in the mood to snack, so I may feed her an additional time before her last feeding before bedtime. I would say that she eats on both sides about 50% of the time; some feedings during the day she only eats on one side but I don't really keep track of it exactly. My main goal is to get her a full feeding each time, which is typically easy to do.

Nighttime Sleep

Again, not to brag on my girl, but she is an AMAZING sleeper at night. I usually nurse her sometime between 9:30-10:30 and put her to bed for the night. She will then sleep and not wake up for another 7-9 hours. I'll usually nurse her sometime in the early morning (5-7 am), then I lay her back down. I usually don't get her up for the day until 9:30 am (more on that in a minute). Again, God is so kind and gives us just what we need. Sleep is something I need, and I am aware (and so are my husband and kids), that if Momma is running on empty in the sleep department, I am not the nicest person. Sad, but true. With a good dose of nighttime sleep the past few weeks, I have been so refreshed when I wake up and usually have a good amount of energy to make it through the day. Naps for me haven't been much of a reality for a while since the kids' naps usually don't match up where all three are asleep. But maybe one day we can get there! (Selfishly, I hope naps are in my future. I love naptime!)

Sample Schedule

Here is an example (roughly) of a schedule for Stella at eight weeks:

9:30 am- I wake her. She usually sleeps after her early morning feeding, and I have to go in to wake her up. I don't want her day to start any later than this, so I usually "wake her up for the day" at this point unless she has woken up on her own before this. This is later than I really want to have her sleep, BUT this time allows me to have a good hour with Nora and Liam in the mornings where I am not caring for Stella. We fix breakfast together, get dressed, and usually get the kitchen semi-clean before I wake her. So, for now, it works for us but I will probably eventually start her day earlier (around 8:30 am).
Stella is woken up, she eats, plays for a bit, gets dressed and diaper changed, then goes down for a nap.

12:00 pm- Eat. Playtime. Naptime.

2:30 pm- Eat. Playtime. Naptime.

5:00 pm- Eat. Playtime. Naptime.

7:30 pm- Eat. Playtime. Bath and then bedtime.

10:00-10:30 pm- Dream sleep and bedtime for the night.

**Again, this is a rough schedule. Our summer has been so busy that it's been hard to do anything with much consistency. I'll have a few days that look like the schedule above, then we'll hit the weekend and everything goes out the window. But, she's such a good and easy-going baby, that it doesn't really affect her....I guess it has to do with her age, too. Ahhh, baby #3!

Clothes/Diapers

Stella wears mostly 0-3 months clothes now. She can still fit in a few of her newborn things, depending on the brand and outfit, but she's fitting well in the 3 month stuff. She's also wearing size 1 diapers.

Tricks

Stella loves to smile, especially at Nora.

I talk to her a lot, trying to get her to talk back, but she hasn't quite begun making lots of cooing noises yet. I just love that phase, so I hope she finds her voice soon. Nora has just recently discovered her hands and loves to keep them right up next to her face. I think it looks like she's ready to box someone if they get in her way. So cute!

Paci

Well, within the past week we have finally found a paci that Stella likes. I kept trying the green Soothie paci that Liam took, and she would take it but always seemed to have the hardest time keeping it in her mouth. I don't know if it was too heavy or what, but I had picked up a few Avent pacis right after she was born and would occasionally give it to her, but it seemed that she didn't care for it so much. But, last week I tried it again and she has been hooked ever since. She doesn't have to have a paci to go to sleep, but sometimes she sleeps better if she has it. I have not had to give her one after her last feeding at night yet because she is usually zonked and just goes down. I really don't look forward to those nights where you have to keep getting up to plug her paci back in her mouth, so I hope that she can still self-soothe instead of always relying on it, but we'll just have to see. Regardless, it seems that Stella is now a "paci girl."

Here are some pics of Stella with some of her favorite people:

Stella goes in the middle of the month for her check-up, so I'll post her stats then! Ciao!

Instagram.

2011-08-01T16:40:00.000-04:00

I recently discovered this new app for my cell phone called Instagram. It's an awesome photography app that allows you take pictures, customize them, and share them with others. You can also follow other people on Instagram and see what pics they are taking. It's lots of fun, particularly for me who loves photography but who doesn't have a lot of time to take pictures at this phase of life. I always have my cell phone with me, but I don't always have my big camera. This allows me to snap a shot and share it with my family and friends, or with you here on the blog. Here are some pictures from the past few days!

On Thursday, we spent the day at Granna and Geegaw's house to celebrate Geegaw's birthday. While the kids were swimming, we heard the Ice Cream Truck coming through the neighborhood. The kids and I ran to the street to catch the Ice Cream Man, and Nora and Liam were able to make their first ice cream purchase. They both chose a push-up, which was one of my favorite ice cream truck treats when I was a little girl.

Our sweet friends, Ty and McKelvey also got some ice cream and joined us in the shade while they ate.

Here's Liam on the slide at Dollywood:

Stella slept nearly the whole time she was in her carseat while we were at Dollywood. She's such a good baby. Oh, and just this week she decided to be a "paci girl." We finally found a paci that she likes.

Geegaw stealing some kisses from Liam:

Our bright-eyed baby girl:

While our friends Ryan and Chrissy were in town, we took a few boat trips. On Sunday, we went to an old iron bridge just up the river and swam in the lake. Also, Ryan and Jonathan decided to be daredevils and jumped off the bridge.

This is what Stella did while we were on the boat:

Today

2011-08-01T15:29:00.001-04:00

...is Monday, August 1st. Where has this summer gone!? Oh, that's right. We've had a new baby so everything is moving at lightning speed. Long days, fast weeks, even faster months.

...we are recovering from a very busy, but very wonderful long weekend. We had some dear friends from New Orleans come in town Saturday, so we've spent the past two days visiting with them and having lots of fun in the pool and on the lake. Chrissy and I grew up together in church at Lakeview Christian Center. It's so funny that we used to be two young girls, and now we are both married with children who spent the weekend playing together. It was so much fun and so good to be around them! I just love and am so thankful for lifelong friendships.

...I have a mountain of laundry to conquer. We were not home all day Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The kids and I spent Thursday at Geegaw and Granna's house because it was Geegaw's birthday, Friday we went to Dollywood, and Saturday and Sunday we spent at the Bradshaws because they graciously let Chrissy and Ryan and their kiddos stay at their house since we couldn't fit everyone at our house. So, basically for the past four days we have been gone all day only to come home just in time for bed, dump everything in my bedroom, sleep, and then get up to go again. My bedroom is in shambles and our laundry situation is out.of.control. But, I have begun the descent down Laundry Hill and should be fully finished by tomorrow.

...I decided that two weeks or more withOUT Chick-fil-a was long enough. The kids (all three of them) and I headed out for some "chicken and fries" for lunch, plus I have been longing for a good sweet tea!

...I had an hour and a half conversation with my momma today. I love days when that happens. She is a school teacher and is still off for the summer, so while the kids played and Stella napped, we got to catch up on all kinds of stuff. Love my momma!

...I discovered that Liam likes to smell Stella. I don't know what it is about that boy, but he just can't keep his hands off of his baby sister. It's like this overwhelming desire and sensation inside of him that if he is within five feet of her he just.has.to.touch.her. He can't help himself. So sweet!

...I am over the ants that seem to have taken residence in our house....in the kitchen, in the kids' bathroom, and in the dining room by the back door. We have to get these critters out of here soon!

...I really love this song:

and I REALLY love this new worship song we have sung the past two weeks at church:

...I am going to try to finish up a few projects I have been wanting to do on the computer: Stella's 2-month post, baby announcements, and downloading some pics! Stay tuned!

Motherhood

2011-07-25T15:08:00.000-04:00

I recently came across two wonderful articles on the Desiring God blog about motherhood. They were posted within a few weeks of each other, but the timing of their arrival has been just perfect for me and the encouragment and conviction I needed in the moment. I pray that if you are have a good day as mother, a hard day as a mother, or just a mediocre day as a mother, that you will read these to uplift your soul and give a fresh breath to your calling as a Momma.

Click below to read each article by Rachel Jankovic:

Motherhood as a Mission Field

Motherhood is a Calling and Where your Children Rank

I plan to read and reread these over and over again!

bradshaws + johns = fun

2011-07-15T10:48:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post some of the pictures from my family's visit last weekend. As I mentioned in my earlier post, we spent Friday night together down in Market Square! It is one of our favorite places ever in Knoxville. There is just so much to do, and I can't fail to mention that we love several restaurants down there. My mom insists on going nearly every time she is in town, and we are always happy to oblige. So, this night together, we loaded up the van and my parents' car and headed that way.

The Girls (minus me and Stella)


The boys (plus Nora and Stella)

While Emily and Hillary checked out a few of the shops, Nora and Liam played in the fountains. Liam always starts out a bit skittish, but if Nora helps him out, he quickly warms up to the idea of getting soaked by the water.

After playing awhile in the water, we were ready for supper. We decided to eat at one of our favorite places Cafe 4. We enjoyed quite a feast...everyone ordering something different and sharing with each other.

Emily-- our city girl.

Patiently waiting for her supper.


Our silly boy--always trying to make others laugh!

After our dinner, Stella decided she wanted some supper of her own:

So we took the opportunity to play and get a few family photos:

Such a handsome little man.

Tree hugger

Hillary and Stella being silly.

All of the girls:


Being silly--even Stella participated.

We later wandered over to Mast General Store where a few of us couldn't help but act crazily:

On Saturday, we conquered Dollywood, but I didn't bring my camera. But, on Sunday, I actually remembered to grab my camera on our way out of the door to church. I managed to capture a few pictures, but I did NOT get any of Stella in her beautiful new dress that Nana bought her. Nor did I manage to get a family picture of all of us on that special day. Nora and Liam posed a bit for me in their new outfits, but you can imagine how difficult it is to capture a perfect picture with those two!

Finally, I did manage one shot of Stella as Aunt DeDe held her after church:

We had such a great weekend together as a family! Can't wait till we are all together again.

Pure Talent

2011-07-13T14:17:00.000-04:00

I have tons of pictures from the weekend my parents were in town! We had so much fun! While we were hanging out down at Market Square and the kids were playing in the fountain, I happened to snap a few pictures of my parents as they sat together.

It started out innocently:

But things started to get a little out of hand as I tried to give them some direction.

Show me PENSIVE:

Give me ANGRY:

Show me DEVASTATION:

Let's have PURE ELATION:

And finally, give me your interpretation of SURPRISE:

All in all, they are quite talented (and weird), but I sure do love them! Even if they try to gross my sisters and I out with their constant PDA!

Playing Catch-Up

2011-07-12T10:54:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've caught up on what we've been up to. The summer is flying by, and even in "newborn world," things are pretty busy for us! It's funny how life doesn't slow down even though we have a new little person. Stella does a great job of keeping up with our family activities....maybe that's why she is such a great nighttime sleeper!

So....here it goes!

Nora took two weeks of swim lessons over at UT Aquatic Center at the end of June. We did this last summer, and I was so pleased with the program over there. It's super-affordable, and the classes are grouped according to age and taught by UT college students. Nora loved it last year, and we decided to do again this summer. My next-door neighbor Anne lovingly offered to take Nora for me since Stella was just two weeks old at the time. Anne's little boy, Dillon, is in the same class as Nora, so it worked out great. Funny Story: Anne was blown away by how talkative Nora was on the car rides to and from swim lessons. She said Nora didn't stop chatting the whole time, and Dillon seemed a little put out by the fact that he had to listen to the girls "talking" the whole time. Nora apparently asked Dillon too many questions, so he got to the point where he just tuned Nora out because it was too much for him. HA HA! Anyway, shortly after swim lessons were finished, Jonathan was in the pool with Nora and she started "swimming" to him without her life jacket on. She can move her hands and feet at the same time and is able to swim farther and farther without assistance! I'm so proud of her and thankful that our kids love the water so much. Seriously, Nora is our little fish, and Liam is getting braver and braver, too.

My entire family was in town this past weekend. My mom, dad, and two sisters arrived late last week, and we got to spend an entire three days together! It was wonderful. My parents and youngest sister, Hillary, drove up from New Orleans last Thursday. When they got into town, we greeted them with one of my dad's favorites from up here: Dead End BBQ. It was so fun to gather around the kitchen table, eating a meal together, and just spending some quality time with them. This was my dad and sisters' first time to meet Stella, so they were all eager to hold her and love on her as much as possible. On Friday, we hung out at our house in the morning, then hit up Steak and Shake for lunch. While the kids took a nap, my dad and Jonathan went to pick up my middle sister, Emily, from the airport. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, and came all the way down to see us for a short visit. That evening, we went down to Market Square so the kids could play in the fountains and we could eat dinner at one of our favorite places Cafe 4. On Saturday, we did the unthinkable--we headed to Dollywood. It was a bit more crowded than we've experienced in the past, but we hadn't been in the summer or on a Saturday since last year. It was super hot, but we all had a great time. Stella did awesome! I wore her in the Bjorn most of the time, and we took several trips to the air-conditioned Infant Care Room for feedings and to cool off. Nora and Liam skipped their naps so we could get as much out of the day as possible. We left there around 4 pm, drove home, changed clothes, then went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for family dinner. It was a long and exhausting day, but we all had a blast! On Sunday, everyone went to church and Jonathan and I had the privilege of dedicating Stella. To dedicate a baby is an opportunity to declare before the Lord and before our church family that we are committing Stella to the Lord and that we as her parents are dedicated to raising her up in the Lord. Our prayer is that we will raise all of our children in a way that is pleasing to God, and we acknowledge that it is by God's grace alone that we can do that and that only He is capable of opening their hearts and minds to Him! My entire family was there and Jonathan's parents came too! I'm so thankful it worked out that way! My parents left as soon as the service was over, and Emily flew out Sunday evening. It was such a fun weekend together, and it makes me sad how rare those times are these days since we are all so spread out and in such different phases of life.

Stella is just growing like a weed! She is filling out and as of today, she is officially out of Newborn diapers and into Size 1. Sad day!!! She is such a wonderful night sleeper. Last night, she had her longest stretch yet. I nursed her at 10:00 last night, and she woke up for her next feeding at 7:00 am. That's 9 hours! I cannot believe it. I have never had a baby sleep such long stretches this early, but I am very thankful and am just letting her take the lead. I know she will let me know when she is hungry, and my milk supply is keeping up since she seems to make up for the lack of nighttime feeding during the day.

I can also say that I am officially loving the newborn stage. I don't think I "loved" the newborn stage with the other two....maybe I was too stressed out or too exhausted to fully appreciate it, but that's not the case now. Stella is such a joy, and my moments of holding her and rocking her are not as frequent as I would like. My favorite time of the day with her is the last feeding of the day when we sit in the rocker in the dark and I can just hold her and stare at her. She smiles more and more each day.

Liam is just as every two-year-old boy should be. He's into EVERYTHING and such a mess! His vocabulary grows every day, and he surprises us all the time with what he says and comprehends. The other day, he recounted an entire story to Jonathan about something that happened to him. It was not super clear, but since Jonathan already knew the story, he could tell what Liam was trying to communicate. Too cute!

One funny thing about Nora and Liam:

Liam says "Yeah" all the time. And he says everything in a very deep, nearly monotone voice. Nora--Little Miss Verbal--tells Liam, "Liam, you say 'Yeah' all the time!" Liam's response to her: "Yeah." It may not sound funny, but it's so cute. Just something I want to remember, more than anything.

Ok, my time has run out! Crazy kiddos to tend to. Till next time.