Birthday fun

Yesterday, we celebrated my birthday as a family. Brent gave me a Flip Mino for my birthday present!!! So as I played with it yesterday, I created a little video of some of the day.



While I was at a baby shower, Brent also cleaned the house for me, had the girls help him make me a birthday cake, and made birthday cards for me with the girls. After I got home and everyone took a nap, he then kept us out of the house most of the day so it would stay clean. I was very impressed. It was a great day!!

Family Fun Day

Power surges in the house have equaled a blown control panel in the oven and the HVAC unit. Weird charges on my debit card showed up, and we discovered someone had my card number and was using it. Fixing these two problems occupied our morning!

But in between the electricians, the power company workers, the phone calls to the bank, and filing claims, we still managed to squeeze in a bit of family fun.

We did a color scavenger huntpainted and swamstopped by Keller Festand ended the evening with a little swim and some chocolate chip cookies.

Even the little guy got to enjoy the outdoors.The kids literally fell into bed exhausted...I think they had a good day =)

We've made it...sort of

Its 7:07pm and all 3 kids are in bed...

Its the third night in a row Justus has gone down at the same time as the girls. Praise the Lord the walking the floor with the baby until he will go to bed at 10pm are over! I'm a bad mom after 7pm =)

Stats

It's official. Justus is huge! At 2 months, he weighs 13 lbs 7 oz. He is 22 1/2 inches long. So basically he is short and fat but oh so cute =)

I've also given in and started letting him sleep on his tummy. Sometimes I wished I lived 20 years ago where they told you to let them sleep on their tummy and then I wouldn't feel so guilty for turning him to his tummy =) Last night was actually the first time I let him sleep all night on his tummy, and it was a much better night! He's been taking naps on his tummy periodically for the last 2 weeks. I might have to take the bumper out of his crib already though because his favorite spot is right up in the corner with his nose pushed into the bumper. He'll wiggle his way up there regardless of where I lay him down. He's still so young that makes me a bit nervous =)

Elliana was a tummy baby, but I didn't give in to her desires until she could roll herself. I guess I"m more of a pushover this time around! The nice thing about putting him on his tummy is that he'll put himself to sleep about 50-60% of the time. 2 pats on the back and a kiss and he'll lay there until he falls asleep. Maybe he'll end up being an easy baby after all...I'm not counting on it quite yet though =)

And notice his little t-shirt in the picture...I'm brainwashing him young about the wonderful state of Iowa!

My Spiritual Journey

Completely forgot that it was Tuesday and time to write this today! The 3 day weekend got me all confused! So in the 5 minutes I have before Justus needs to eat, I'll quickly recap my last week.

I am loving working on holding my tongue. Its hard, but worth it. I have felt calmness sweep over our house as I have worked on being gentle with my kids. The Lord is good to sustain me even when I am so tired I can't see straight. Most days I feel like I'm running a 24 hour daycare and long for a break where someone doesn't need something from me, but yet God is faithful to point out His blessings throughout the day which forces my mind to continue to meditate on His word.

All that to say, I guess my journey this week is still working on gentleness towards others while realizing the blessings I have in life. Here are a few I've noticed this week:

• 3 healthy kids...I don't spend my life in a doctor's office or a hospital trying to get my kids well
• A husband I adore and who adores me.
  
• A house that does not need any major projects done. I don't think I could handle any more time consuming projects =)
• Great friends who pray for me and encourage me through life
• A wonderful mom who listens to me even when I don't make sense
• Amazing sisters who I get to see in a month!!!!
• 3 day weekends
  
• Random hugs and tickles from my kiddos
• And there's not a better feeling than after you tuck the two girls in and they look at you with sleepy eyes and say, "I love you so much mom." Who could ask for a better life than that?!!

I'm coming out of the fog of having a baby so hopefully I'll start reading again soon. Anyone have any good suggestions on some books about meditation or prayer?

Our Letters of the Week

Lovin the Holiday weekend

Can't beat a 3 day weekend! On Sunday, we went to churchAnd then skipped naps and drove from church to Plano to hang out with my cousins for the day.

Brent and I and the girls all had fun in the pool (and yes, I actually put a swim suit on 8 weeks after giving birth! May be the first and last time that will happen for a while =) )

Justus just enjoyed being passed around and held all day long. He sure didn't like his reality check today when he had to sleep in a bed!

Tonight our Home Team from church came over to grilland swim. This time only the kiddos swam and the adults all got to sit and chat. 11 kids under 4 and we actually were able to finish quite a few conversations. It was a great evening!

Family Fun Day

One grouchy daddy + one grouchy baby + one grouchy mommy+ doctor appointments, hair cuts, and a meeting = not such a fun family fun day!

So we tried to redeem ourselves and make up for it today =) So this week Saturday became our family day! Today we finally found a good breakfast taco place! We've been looking for a good place since we moved here from San Antonio. Its a perfect start to a Saturday morning...breakfast tacos and coffee!

We then spent the day dressing up like princesseswatching home movies of the girls when they were babies

Even Justus got to watch the movies...he looks thrilled doesn't he? =)Riding bikes

Cuddling with daddyFingerpainting outside: Washable fingerpaints next to a sprinkler...the best idea I've had in a long time!And playing with the water hose. We ended the day by watching Cinderella together. It was a much better family day than yesterday =)

First Date

Elliana went on her first date with daddy tonight. She had to wait until she was 2 years old for her first date and boy was she excited. Big sister was a bit jealous so we had some great discussions about being happy for other people when they got to do something special.Brent said Elliana has never been so talkative or excited. She soaked up the individual attention from her daddy (aka "the prince" according to the girls).

Organization Part III

I said I would do the desk as my next organization project, so here it is.


Before










After









It feels wonderful to have it decluttered!!!

Great Moments

We were having a conversation about the hospital and when Justus was born...

Avery "He came out because I prayed that he would come out quick and so God made him come out?"

Me: "That's right."

Avery: "So if I pray that he'll go back into your tummy, he will?"


This was said on an afternoon walk. I was singing as I was pushing the stroller.
Elliana: "Mommy, no please."
Me: "No please to what?"

Elliana: "No sing please mommy. It doesn't sound right."
(I guess she's already figured out her mommy can't sing!)


Avery ran into her room this morning and said this to me

Avery: I know my real name is Avery, but I like Avesy better so you can just call me Avesy from now on alright?


Elliana was in tears on the way home from the park this morning. I couldn't get her to stop crying while I was driving. She was a bit hysterical. Finally, this was our conversation.

Me: "Elliana, why are you crying? What happened?

Elliana: "Avery said I'm not Ana!"

I guess she thought that since Avery said she wasn't Ana anymore that she couldn't be Ana anymore. The sister teasing has begun =)

Cries, Cries, and more Cries

I spent the morning at the zoo with some friends. The girls and I had a blast! Unfortunately, Justus isn't the most flexible baby and though he did great at the zoo, here is what he's been doing since we arrived home at 2pm.

Its now 8:40pm. An overtired baby is the worst!

My Spiritual Journey

"...he who HOLDS his tongue is wise..." Prov. 10:19

"...GENTLE answer turns away wrath..." Prov. 15:1

"...Quick to LISTEN, Slow to SPEAK..." James 1:19

"...Keep a TIGHT REIN on your tongue..." James 1:26

As I have been praying throughout the week, these are the verses the Lord has brought to mind and allowed me to meditate on throughout the day.

This has led to my mantra throughout the day becoming "hold it with a tight rein, listen and don't speak, and be gentle".

When I'm tired, I speak quickly. I react to life, sometimes with a not so gentle answer. This week the Lord has been revealing to me my tone of voice that is often times present when I speak to my children. As I REACT to them being kids, the GENTLE voice is not always there!

My prayer has gone from just praying for them, to praying for grace to cover over them and for me to develop that gentleness towards them at all times. I don't want them to grow up mimicking my voice when they get frustrated, or when someone does something they don't like. In order to teach them how to be loving and gentle towards others, I need to master that in my reactions toward them. A lot tougher than it sounds for this sleep deprived momma!

Goals:

• So far setting the timer is still working so I have been able to get good time in the word on a daily basis. Avery has even started "reading" her Bible next to me every day and has even started "journaling" what she's learning.
• Continue to add more prayer into the rhythm of my life
• Keep my tongue silent unless there is gentleness, both in correction and in encouragement, to be spoken

Precious Moments

Walking around the corner to see your 3 year old on her knees, Bible open in her hands, eyes closed, and singing

"holy, holy, holy,
Lord, God, Almighty
Early in the Morning
My song shall rise to thee

Only thou art holy,
merciful and mighty
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity"

Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day was an incredible day this week. Justus is 8 weeks old this weekend and finally old enough for us to do Family Fun Day the way we used to! He was a trooper and the rest of us had a blast.
We started the day intending to go to the Mini Train in Fort Worth. An accident on I 35 put us in standstill traffic. Every one knows a stopped car and an 8 week old baby don't mix, so Brent and I looked at the next closest exit, saw it was to the stockyards, and quickly decided to change plans for the day.So off to the stockyards for a cattle drive, some fun by the railroad tracks, riding some kiddie rides, a little nap for the little guy, and a great lunch. All before nap time!
After naps, we took a family walk to the grocery store to pick up some corn on the cob. The girls needed to learn how to shuck corn before our trip north this summer =) We ended the evening with some ice cream (and yes, they are almost naked in our front driveway. Ice cream and clothes don't mix!)
And watched a fun movie together as a family. It was the perfect, relaxing day!

Its the Hard-Knock Life For Us

My Spiritual Journey

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 32:1-2

This is the verse I am meditating on this week. I am blessed because I am completely forgiven and loved by God.

Why?
Often times I am overwhelmed by what I don't accomplish that I feel like I should be accomplishing. I don't spend enough one on one time with each girl. I don't keep the house cleaned like I should. I don't invest in my friends as much as I should. I don't keep up with my friends and family who live far away like I should. I don't, I don't, I don't....the list could go on and on.

I wasn't even aware of this self condemnation until this past week as I was reading the Word. The Lord completely opened my eyes to the guilt I was experiencing simply because I couldn't be everything to everyone and do it all perfectly. He began to make Romans 8:1 real to me in a different way. I've known the verse forever, but suddenly the words, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." began to take on a whole new meaning to me. There is no condemnation for me because I am in Christ even though I DON"T do everything I feel like I should.

Which is where Psalm 32 comes in. I am BLESSED not CONDEMNED. Seems simple right? But a lesson the Lord needed to make real to me again so I can live in HIS presence instead of the presence of guilt of not accomplishing everything I think a perfect life should accomplish. I can live the blessed life instead of cheapening it with my own ideas of what life should look like.

So Where Does This Take Me?
Back to prayer. A good friend and mentor of mine reminded me of all the time I have to focus on prayer. One of my goals this year has been to increase my prayer life and I have completely overlooked all the time I have to pray now. Instead of flipping on the TV when I'm nursing or walking the floor trying to get Justus to sleep, I have been praying. Instead of aimlessly doing housework in the few spare minutes I have a day, I have been purposefully praying as I accomplish small tasks. I am blessed with an abundant amount of time in the house where I can work on my prayer life. Its good we have a Father who loves to communicate with us!

Goals:

• The whole waking up early thing isn't working out that great. Justus decided he also wants to wake up early with me =)
• After I've put him down for his morning nap, I set the timer and tell the girls they can't talk to me until the timer goes off and I read my Bible then. So far its been working!
• Continue to take every opportunity to pray and listen to God.
  
• Live as though I am blessed and focus on that instead of all the responsibilities that life throws at me.
  

Organization is not Normally My Love

I figure I can't control how much crying goes on in the house, so I can at least control the organization of the house! In the midst of chaos, I need to control something in order to remain sane =)

Here are my latest projects:

This morning I divided our board into 4 sections: Bible verse to memorize, Prayer section for pictures of people we are praying for, Pictures the girls are coloring, and Letter of the Week to help them remember the letter we're learning this week.

The project last week was my pantry. The girls' arts supplies are always everywhere, so I reorganized the pantry so there was a place for everything.

This is the pantry floor before:

This is the pantry after. I think my next project will be the computer desk...look in the background of the picture below. Do you think the desk needs organized??? =)

Disclaimer: I am definitely more of a free spirit than an organizer. I think that's the nice way of saying I'm messy =) Maybe a fussy baby is God's way of curing me!

Family Fun Day

Family Fun Day

The pictures say it all