Guess Who's 6 Months Old Today?!

Too Much For Me..I Need Him

Why is it that it seems like every post begins the same? With an apology for the length of time that has passed since the last post.... I'll just skip it this time, since it's obvious...

Let's see if I can do a little updating....what's happened over the last month?

Nathan

• Rolls over
• Sits alone
• 1st sick Dr. visit (bronchitis)
• Grabbing and vocalizing more
• Reaches for Great Aunt Grammy
  
• Eats cereal....not exactly, but has been introduced...
• Turned 5 months old, still weighing around 19 pounds
• Tries Honeycomb cereal and biter biscuit
• 1st trip to ER (high fever and screaming in pain, no diagnosis...but partially due to teething)
• Cut first tooth (bottom right)
• Spends some time outside in walker

Andrew is continuing to do well in and enjoy school. He's a delight to everyone he meets. He did a great job "signing" his name on Valentines for his classmates.

He had to hold his mouth just right to get it done!


Joshua is doing well with homeschooling. I was so proud of him the day after I had spent the entire night in the ER with Nathan. I explained to him that I needed to sleep but, that he still needed to get his work done. I gave him his assignments and he did them all with out any "prodding" from me. Such a blessing that day!

Here you can see the adoration Josh has for Nathan. When I wasn't looking they both ended up on Josh's bed for a little relaxing. (TOP BUNK! Aah!)


Craig is working hard at his new job. It is quite stressful at the moment, but a totally different type of stress than he had before. Although he's been working some very long hours to try and get the hospital ready to open (hopefully in just a few more days..), it has been rewarding work for him. His coworkers recognize his good work ethic and appreciate it, which makes all the difference!

As for me....

I just want to share a lesson I've learned recently through a devotional, as well as a sermon... I guess when you begin to hear the same lesson being taught over and over, you should listen..

Gideon's army was too big in the beginning, so God whittled away the number of troops because he didn't want the men to think they had won the victory in their own power. God made it seem like an impossible task to win the battle. How could so few soldiers overpower such a large army? But they DID and God got all the glory.

My to-do list can seem so overwhelming at times. And I'm not just talking about daily "chores" around the house, although those are important and part of what overwhelmes me. I'm referring to everything that is encompassed into being a wife/mother/homemaker/etc. etc. There is absolutely NO way that I can do it all. I'm just now learning (slow learner I guess) that I'm not supposed to be able to do it. If I could, then I would be smug and think more highly of myself than I should. I would claim the victory and the glory. So, in order that I not do that....God has to give me more to do than I can possibly do on my own. I need His help to accomplish all that I should, so he can win the Victory and the Glory! Not ME!

Time

It's kind of hard to believe we are already well on our way to the middle of February! I was sitting with the mother of a childhood friend the other day talking about how fast time goes. She told me, "just wait, it just goes by faster the older you get." I can't even imagine it going by any faster...

Oh, how I wish I could freeze time (sometimes that is!). Moments like this....


Or like this...



Or this...



Or.......okay, you get the idea.

Anyway....for an update...

We are doing well. Nathan had his 4 month checkup last week and actually weighed less than I expected! He was only 19 pounds 2 ounces! Still quite sound for his age, don't you think? Unfortunately, he came down with the congestion crud on Friday, and wouldn't you know, the pediatrician's office was closed. So we're just trying to keep him comfortable until tomorrow when, hopefully, we can get in to see the doctor.

Friday morning I had a parent/teacher conference with Andrew's teacher. He is doing very well. I looked over his portfolio and am amazed at all he has learned and mastered. He is quite a smart boy!

Joshua enjoyed "recess" at the park with a homeschooling friend on Thursday. It was a beautiful day for it!

I am SO looking forward to when the days stay this nice for a while. I'm sure we still have some cold ones to come though...

Well, the big boys have just come in from a "hike" with their Daddy, so I better go hear about their adventures for now....

A Thankful Heart

So here we are...hunkered down amidst this icy wonderland. It's the second day the boys have been "off" from school and they are happily at play in their room, as they've been for hours on end. It's bliss..

I was just thinking about how very much I COULD have accomplished over the last two days if I had set my mind to it. Instead, I took the chance just to be...

Oh, don't get me wrong. I've done things. Maybe not the "best things." Like actually playing WITH the boys. (Although, it seems that I'd be in the way of the play they have going now.) Or, spending time in the Word and in prayer.

But, I've done things...like making sure the laundry and dishes stay caught up "just in case" the power goes out. I've been cooking more lately too....

It has been so wonderful having Craig home for supper most nights. Most of you know he got a new job that allows him more time at home.

I have so much to be thankful for.

I recently felt guilty for being frustrated with the many nights of interrupted sleep...

How blessed I am to have a healthy baby who is home in his own crib and not hooked to tubes and monitors in a hospital.

How blessed I am to have a husband who is home every night after working hard to provide for us all day, and not one who is absent or lazy.

How blessed I am to have not one child, but three handsome and healthy boys. So many long for just one...

How blessed I am to have a roof over my head and more food than I need, when so many others go cold and hungry.

Ahhhh....the blessings could go on forever. More than I could ever count. Although, maybe I should try sometime. You know the song.....

"Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings, see what God has done......"

I want to have a thankful heart.

I recently heard a teenager say she was having the worst day EVER, just because she was bored. OH MY! If being bored is the worst ever, what a VERY blessed life she has.

Wow...this post is all over the place. You can get a glimpse into my shuffled up mind...


I'll end with a poem (not written by me), a video and some pics....Enjoy!

Lord of all pots and pans and things,
Since I've no time to be
A saint by doing lovely things
Or watching late with Thee,
Or dreaming in the dawnlight
Or storming heaven's gates,
Make me a saint by getting meals
And washing up the plates...
Thou who didst love to give men food
In room or by the sea
Accept this service that I do-
I do it unto Thee.

-Author Unknown

Nathan is now 4 months old and weighs just over 20 pounds. He's getting to be quite playful.


Icy picnic table


Pretending the ice is really snow...


Hat Hair

Fun with Momma's BIG Boys

A couple of Sunday's ago we snapped these fun photos in the afternoon. Josh and Andrew were being very silly...

CHEESE!


I can't even think of a good caption...all I can do is LAUGH!


Do I look scary or what? I once heard that in the Polynesian area (I think it is) that sticking out your tongue means "listen to me, I have something important to say." Whatever it is....it looks important doesn't it!?


Sweetness

Spinning Chairs

Josh is just full of funnies these days. Or, maybe I'm just easily amused?

His desk chair is an "office" type chair that spins. He often drives me crazy by spinning around and around when he should be working. Today, he was spinning and I was just about to get onto him when....

Josh: "Hey, when I stick my legs out, it slows me down."

Now normally I'm not too in tune with these teachable moments, but for some reason I caught it this time.

Me: "Yeah did you know that's science?"

He said he did and explained in detail all about it.

Me: "Josh, you are so much smarter than I was when I was 7 years old, I didn't think about stuff like that."

Josh: "Yes, because you didn't have a spinning chair."

Me: (laughing) "No, I didn't."

Josh: "Because you went to public school."

Such simple, yet, smart logic. The only reason I didn't think about "that kind of stuff" is I didn't sit in a spinning chair! Maybe public schools should think about using spinning chairs to encourage and inspire the learning of science! :)

Do you think any of the teachers would go for it?

I can see it now....20 spinning chairs and a teacher with an insane case of vertigo!

Coffee Bean Sandcream

I just have to share this Josh funny before I forget....oh how I wish I had recorded ALL the times our boys have made us laugh out loud! Anyway...

Yesterday I impulsively bought a half gallon of Coffee Bean Frozen Yogurt. I dished up a bowl of it as soon as I had the utensils available and, much to my surprise, discovered it was very gritty. Hmmm.... weird.

So fast forward to today.

I decide to try another bowl.

I'm looking at it....and it occurs to me!

It's like eating wet sand! Only it really tastes good!

I asked Josh if he'd like to try it.

He said "Yes, give me just a little bite..............(thinking).. cause I know I've had a little bit of wet sand in my mouth before."

Have you had a good laugh today? :)

Are you ready for this?

It's picture catch up time. This is a little bit of a whole lot. Forgive me if a few are repeats. I couldn't remember if some of the first ones I had already posted or not. I know these are a little heavy on the Nathan side and yes, I know I still owe Josh his own post. I hope I get to it soon...but boys, please know how very much your Mommy loves you. It's not the number of pictures that counts, but the love I have for you in my heart.

I hope you enjoy....

Trying out the jumper for the first time...wasn't quite ready, but may be by now.


Kickin' back with my dimpled self.


Watching one of the many Christmas programs on T.V. Probably either Charlie Brown or The Grinch.


Do we look like brothers? Raised eyebrows and all.


Stocking Stuffer


I love that Joshua's homeschool curriculum is Biblically based. See JESUS on his paper?


Grandpa and I took the boys to the Farm Show. Basically just a trade show where vendors set up their wares for advertisement. There are tons of tractors and farm equipment of all kinds. Sound boring to you? Not for Josh and Andrew... No need to spend a fortune at Disney World when the Farm Show is FREE!

We've always wanted a tractor with a "buddy seat."


We thought this tractor was pretty cool. It has two steering wheels and seats, plus a bench seat in the back complete with seat belts. (I should note, this was most likely not for sale, there was an antique tractor club there I believe.)


Andrew milkin' old Bessie.


Just checking to see if he still knows how to take a bottle...he does!


For the last couple of weeks, Andrew has been saying that he's a possum. Or would that be opossum? What's the difference anyway? So...as I was saying....Andrew pretends to be a possum "who likes to eat fruit." He's been constantly asking for grapes. He even went to church as a possum once. Apparently, possums don't like to wear sweater vests...who knew? Several nights ago...maybe weeks, I've lost track, I was taking some pictures of Andrew and he was saying he was a possum.....again....and this is the face I got. (I think he was actually eating grapes at the time.)


So then....I went into the room where Josh was and asked him if he was a possum. He immediately struck this pose...

OH MAN, did I laugh!!!! Could a boy look anymore like a possum?

One day, the boys and I made these cute Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats. You know, I'm trying to be a "fun" mom, but making sure to take pictures so they will remember it when they're grown.
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A Rudolph close-up...


The cousins (Gillan and Gracie) were here along with my brother (Rudy) and sis-in-law (Christy), but for some reason I didn't get many pictures and didn't get some of everyone.

Gillan, Josh, Gracie, Andrew and Rudy


All the boys think Gillan is IT...he's the oldest! Now the story has been told (and there is a recording somewhere to prove it) that when I was a baby and my brother was about Josh's age (7) he said he was "the special one" because he was the oldest. Not sure where he got that idea. Maybe from my Dad's older brother? Nevertheless...Daddy made sure he knew I was equally as special, and Gracie....you are too!!


Pretty Girl


Nathan got a little warm one night, so he stripped down and started kickin' it to the beat of some Bluegrass.



Santa Baby's 3 Month photo shoot....just a few of my favs! Oh, and he's pushing 18 pounds!

Pouty Lip


Ho Ho Ho


You know I'm cute..


Hey hey, Good Lookin'.


"...like a bowl full of jelly."


Did you make it all the way through? Thanks! Maybe I'll not try to fit so much all in one next time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many blessings to you and yours for 2009!

Don't Give Up

New pictures will be coming soon I promise. Maybe not tonight, but as soon as possible. Although, it might take awhile to upload all I'm wanting to post...

MERRY CHRISTmas to all....

We have had a good day here. Normally, our Christmas starts on the Eve and sometimes even before, but this year has been different. We didn't get started with the festivities until Christmas Day, which I have really enjoyed this year. We were able to kick things off here at home this morning. The boys came in bright and early to get us up and were so excited!

(I should back up and tell you that Josh read us the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve, as a bedtime story. He did a wonderful job!)

After presents and breakfast rolls we rounded up and headed to Nana and Papa's house (Craig's mom) for more food and presents. And...of course, another reading of the Nativity. We try to not let the boys forget what Christmas is really about. They know......but who can contain their excitement when toys are involved? I know I never could!

The boys are eagerly anticipating the arrival of cousins Gillan and Gracie tomorrow and the celebrating will continue.

I mustn't forget to mention that baby Nathan is 3 months old today! It's hard to believe. I haven't gotten a weight on him recently, but will do that tomorrow. That is, if I can bear to stand on the scale myself! UGH! Too much cheesecake.... I also plan to take some 3 month pics for his monthly calender.

In the meantime.....here's a preview of how he might be dressed!

SANTA BABY


Checking out what's under the tree!


Helpful big brothers...too bad this present has to be returned due to a quality control issue.


Santa knows just what a boy needs in his stocking! Pacies and teething medicine! (No, he's not officially teething yet, but will be soon I believe. We just want to be prepared.)

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town!

Look who stopped by Andrew's school today!


And here is a quick snippet of Nathan...

Stayin' Alive

Just a quick check in...so many posts I'd like to do...but right at this very moment I have a 7 year old asking over my shoulder to watch a movie, a 5 year old rolling in the floor crying as he has been for the last 15 minutes (the reason long forgotten!), a 2 and a half month old laying across my lap wanting me to look at him, and a husband on his way home from work who will be hungry. So.......now what was I going to say?

I guess I just wanted to say we're still here and doing fine. Everyone is healthy and growing like crazy. Well, the boys are growing...hopefully the grown-ups aren't so much!

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures with hopefully more to come soon.....or someday....


This is the sling that my mom made. Cute huh?


And...a cute little smile!

Turkeys

Here's my little 2 month old turkey...

Where's the food?

A little grin.


And here is my first real turkey...

This is my 90 year old Papa and his 11 great-grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 months to 19 years.