Hodge podge

Ok, so this picture is a tad late...we were making Christmas cookies and Isabel looked so cute in her new apron :)

Again, I LOATHE being IN the picture...but I love my sweet boy...who is now four months, so I thought I should share this, too...He is growing so well and is doing great. Although being a first time Mom is a fabulous feeling, I must say, there is something really neat about NOT being a first time Mom (as in you've already had children). It seems like with each child I get a little more laid back, a little more comfortable, a little more confident, and honestly just a little better of a mother. I guess it's the kind of thing where you live, you learn...I got to try lots of things out on the other three kids...so lucky Blake! Of course, I am still terribly far from being an expert. I don't think I could have enough children in my lifetime to make me an expert, though ;)


Anyway, life is good. Not a whole lot going on...which is a good thing, right?! I can't believe we are halfway through the school year. My oldest will be starting high school and getting a learner's permit for driving later this year. Ummmm....Crazy!
My friend Amber, has a new blog, which I will add the link to my list soon. She posted a Maple Hot Chocolate recipe, and while my kids didn't care for it a whole lot (I guess they can keep the watery hot chocolate drink from a package haha) I absolutely loved it! In fact, I've made it twice already!
My sister is due with her third child in early March, and I'm busy working on shower stuff for the end of this month. I'm so glad Blake is going to have a little boy cousin his age. My cousins were my first best friends!
Have a good rest of your week, everyone!

Just a random thought...

Ok. I was sitting here thinking about something and decided to post. It has to do with Christmas. I, like many other Christians, think Christmas is too "hyped up" as far as gifts and other things go...the material aspect is out of control. Even though David and I talk to our kids a lot about the true meaning of Christmas, Christ's birth, etc...we are also guilty of getting caught up in the hype of everything else. It's so hard because it's EVERYWHERE...everywhere you go the material side of Christmas is shoved in your face. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming anyone else for going overboard on the wrong things at Christmas, I'm just saying it's easy to do so. Now, I love Christmas...I love it, so I'm not trying to be negative...I'm really not. But, every year I think I'm going to do "better" as far as sticking to the true reason to celebrate Christmas and have it be more Christ centered and less gift, part, etc centered. Every year I fail. Miserably.
So, as I sit here thinking, and idea came to mind. What if we had Christmas in July and December. What if we did gifts/presents in July...and in December made it solely about Christ? Or even the opposite? Gifts in Dec. and more spiritually focused in July? I think July would be easier for gifts because it's Summer, and well...I don't know that's just what I think. I mean, if we split it up, would it defeat the purpose because it's still doing "gifts for Christmas" at one point? I'm not sure...I am just thinking I really, really, want our next Christmas to be more true to the real reason for celebrating. I guess the first thing I should do is spend some time in prayer about my idea...but again, just wanted to share my random thoughts about it. Have a blessed day, all :)

We are gonna need wet wipes....

We are sitting in the living room, Blake in his bouncer seat.
Joseph walks up to him and turns up his nose, "WHAT is that putrid smell?!!!"
I told him that maybe he had a dirty diaper, just to leave him alone.
I get up to go change him and Isabel comes in and sees what's going on...I noticed Joseph was putting Blake carefully on the couch. So I'm waiting to see what they are going to do. Isabel says, "Ok, now undo his diaper realllllllly slow so I can get a good look and see if he pooped. We are gonna need wet wipes, I can tell." So, They undo his diaper and immediately, both Isabel and Joseph take off running and screaming like wild banshees.
Just a few of their comments...
It's everyyyywherrrrre
It Stinkkkkkssss
That's Disgussstinggggg
Ewwww Nasssty
He went in his paaaaaaants
AGHHHHH Poooooop

Why do I find this hilarious? Maybe I'm the only one, but...my blog and I'll post if I want to :) I love my life!

P.S. It really WAS everywhere!

The post where I ramble...

I just want to say that I watched the show Intervention tonight. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Heart. wrenching. It makes me so incredibly sad. This show has actually taught me quite a bit about addiction. I have family members, close family members, who were or are addicted to various drugs. They have done things to others because of their addiction that have really hurt others, I won't even get into those details. But, let me just say, quite frankly, it always pissed me off (I know that sounds tacky, I usually don't use that word...well, unless something really does piss me off). Gosh that sounds tacky. But, I refuse to replace it with another word. Anyway, I just thought it was ridiculous some of the things they did/do. But, after watching the show I see that the addiction takes over their lives, it's the drug that makes them make all those horrible choices. The drug kills the person you know, and there is just a sad, angry, lost soul left behind. It hurts to even watch. Don't get me wrong, I still hold them responsible, because they chose to try the drug in the first place. But, I do have more compassion for their struggle now. Anyway, the whole reason I bring this up is this: It scares me to death...the fact that those parents never thought their children would be addicts, and now their lives are RIPPED apart. Even the loved ones and family/friends that don't actually do the drug...their lives can be ruined just by having an addict in their family. Some of them come from troubled homes, but I think just as many had "normal" upbringings. That shakes me to the core. I can't imagine having to ever see my children struggle in this way, or living "that life". So, we as parents must pray NOW for our little ones...that God would protect them from any stronghold that would prevent them from living the life that God has planned for them...pray that they are kept free from ANY addiction. It's never too early to start praying for our children's future.

On a MUCH lighter note, Isabel decided to get her hair cut. She wanted it up to her chin. I still wanted to be able to pull it out of her face, and that short seemed a bit drastic. So, we went shoulder length, and I figure if she still wants it short, in the Spring we may go ahead and do it chin length. We shall see. Anyway, it's so adorable...we LOVE it!



Also! Christmas was fantastic! I hope my Mamaw and Gma enjoyed celebrating Jesus' birthday in person...I can't wait until I get to do the same. I am in awe that we are starting the year 2011. In awe. How did we get here? How did it happen? WOW! Anyway, hope everyone had a blessed, fabulous Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

I don't get it. I don't understand why some people make such a fuss about the details of Christ's birth and how/why we celebrate. I celebrate Christmas because I am a Christian...I believe in God and the fact that He sent His son, Jesus, to save us. So, maybe December 25Th isn't the right day. Maybe December isn't the right month. I wasn't there when Christ entered this world, but Christmas is a time to celebrate the fact that He did come. For us. Was He born in a barn? Maybe not. Does it matter? Weather it was in a barn, or in a house...the fact is he had a rather humble entrance, when He deserved MUCH better. He is my King. I will honor and adore Him, and not get caught up in the silly little "what ifs". I know He came to Earth. For me. For you. For all of us. I don't care what the naysayers can "prove"...my faith sustains me...He sustains me. I am so thankful, that so many years ago, I was loved and cared about before I was even knit together in my mother's womb, that my children, and grandchildren to be, were loved...were thought of.
Happy Glorious Birthday, Christ Jesus! My Savior, my Redeemer, my true Father.

For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6

Teens...Eeeek!

If you have a child, they are inevitably going to turn into a teen. There is simply no way around it. We have four kids, and they are pretty spread out, age wise. Well, at least I call 14 years, 9 years, 5 years, and 3 months old, spread out. I was young when I had our first child. So, I have always been a "young" Mom with him...at school and sporting events and the like. With the middle two children, I'm about an average age Mom. And while 31 isn't on old age to have a child, I think I will be on the older side of Moms when our baby Blake starts school. I guess my point is that with our oldest, who is now a teenager, it seems like it wasn't that long ago that I was a teenager myself (even though he is sure it was ages ago). So, I feel like I should know quite a bit about that stage of life, it hasn't been tooooo long, and I'm not that forgetful. Yet. The problem is this: I know all about being a teenage girl, but nothing about being a teenage boy. Oh my. For our oldest, things started changing about 2 years ago. Dare I even say the word, "puberty". Ugh. I am not comfortable with stuff like this. I know I should be, with four kids and all. But, yikes...I am not. I remember several years back, we were riding along in the car, Andrew (our oldest) in the front seat beside me, staring ever so intently under his arm. I asked, "What are you doing???" Andrew replied, "Looking for puberty, Mom!!" Haaaaaaa! It is one of my favorite memories of him, I almost had to pull over because I was beside myself with laughter. I knew he meant he was looking for arm pit hairs, which were a sign of puberty, but how he said it just killed me! After I could calm down though, I thought to myself, "Oh my word, this child is going to go through that stage, and I'm going to have to deal with it". Not the best realization I've ever had to come to. Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit here, but I'm just amazed how my son, in a couple of short years, has gone from a little boy, to a young man. He even has a mustache (of sorts). I have had several talks with him about "stuff" but I am constantly wondering if I am talking to him enough, if I'm getting through to him...if he's comfortable with it? Will he ask questions and talk to me when he needs to or will he be too embarrassed? Will I miss something important? My biggest issue is sex. I have talked with him about the importance of waiting until he is married. I have explained that's how God designed it. But, let's be honest here...a lot of kids Don't wait. I didn't. His dad didn't. And he knows that it's something I regret, I tried to talk openly about it with him, without sharing too many details. So, I don't know if it's right to continue to push waiting until he's married (I mean, I know it's right to push that but is that ALL I should push?)...but should I also push birth control, etc, knowing that he may not wait? On one hand I don't want to act like that's an option, not waiting until marriage, but on the other, I don't want to be a grandmother any time soon...and I don't want my son to get an STD that is so rampant these days. Wow. It's overwhelming having a child this age. Then, there are the talks about drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, fitting in, etc, etc. The biggest thing I feel I can do is pray for him. Pray that God keeps him free from any addiction, any abuse, and unGodly strongholds in his life. I pray that he is confident in who he is, never feels the need to impress anyone, and lives for his Savior, and Him alone. I love my son, he is an awesome child...but I admit, I am not in love with having a teen and all these "issues" to deal with. Since he's the first...the oldest...it's pretty much trial and error with him (poor guy!) and I'm sure I will learn and grow with him, and handle it much better with his two brothers who will go through all this later in life. And. We won't even talk about Isabel. Teen years...with a girl. Oh my. Lord, be with me.

I love...

The way he is milky and drowsy after eating
How just when he falls into a deep sleep he lets out a sweet sigh
His toothless, gummy grin, complete with dimples
When his eyes search my face and then lock onto my own eyes
The way he sucks and sucks on his paci until he is so tired that it just falls out of his mouth
When he is asleep on my chest
How he still "roots" when he is next to me
His perfect little toes and fingers
How he likes his hair being washed
His coos (he is really trying to say something, ya know)
The way he smells
The way his face lights up when his siblings are entertaining him
Just holding him next to me
Just the fact that he's mine....

These are just a FEW of the things I love about our newest addition, and as you can see I'm not quite as spent as I was with my last post :-)