Davy's 6th birthday weekend

First of all, I just cannot believe that Davy is already 6! His Grandpa prayed for the food before the birthday party began, and he said: "thank you for his life, a life that some did not want to exist."

I got choked up at that moment. It was true. When Katie was pregnant with Davy, her Oncologist told my sister to have an abortion. That was her medical advice. She told Katie that due to the radiation that Davy had been exposed to in the womb, he was very possibly going to be a vegetable at birth and it would be best for Katie to abort him.

Thank the Lord that Katie had conviction that the word of God is true. Thank the Lord that Katie believed her fetus was a life. Thank The Lord that her baby Dr. is a believer and walked her through the whole pregnancy. Thank the Lord that he has blessed us with Davy!

Can you imagine this boy not existing in this world?! I cannot. He will always be our sweet miracle and reminder of the Lord's care and goodness.

He VERY proudly wore his cousins jersey to his first tball game of the season.

What a weekend! Here are a few pictures to give you picture of our weekend ;-)

The boys LOVE time with uncle Kyle. They especially love when he reads to them before bed

I imagine this will be one of those pictures that our kids will look at in 15-20 years and say "Dad, you look so young! You were that young when you had me?" I love looking at early everyday pictures of my parents when they were starting their family.

Dan making us breakfast. As he does every weekend.

Bath's are his favorite.. and being bundled up after!

Andrew sweetly refusing to eat from me. He's acting distracted.. but really just refusing to look at me.

"Look, I can turn even FURTHER away from you"

"this frog is cooler than you!"

Caught red handed!

Mouth too full of chocolate to talk.... too cute!

looking through old photos and found this gem. Cheek to Cheek with Dad. Abigail has always been our joy!

Is there anything much better than a cold drink on a front porch with a good friend on a Sunday afternoon?... I think not

Lessons from an infant

We have almost survived a full week of the cold in our home. I say "almost" because we are on the tail end of it. Let me just tell you, the baby cold is way worse than the "man cold". It is just beyond pitiful. They can't help themselves at all. J has slept on my chest for 3 nights because slightly elevated on his chest is the best way for him to breath ( and because I'm a first time mom and I don't have other little kids to take care of, so I can do things like spoil my son)

Here are a few lessons I have learned front this baby cold:

1. We clearly live in a fallen world. How else would an innocent new creature get sick? I wish that were so evident to all people... It would be a lot easier to reach them for Christ if they saw how inherently evil everything is. But it is the narrow path that gets you through the gates to Heaven. If the Lord wanted it to be easy, He would have made it so. For a split second I asked myself "why" He would make it this way, and the answer quickly entered my mind... For His glory! It's not about you.

2. Is there anything I wouldn't do for my baby??? I have asked myself this many times since his birth, and I pray that the only thing I wouldn't do for him is deny my faith. It makes the Father's love for us so much more real. These lyrics have run through my mind a lot the last six weeks.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How Vast Beyond All Measure

That He Should Give His Only Son

To Make a Wretch His Treasure

How Great the Pain of Searing Loss

The Father Turns His Face Away

As Wound Which Mar the Chosen One

Bring Many Sons to Glory

3. Things which used to be gross to me, just aren't gross anymore. For example... the green bulb syringe.  Truly, that thing used to make my stomach turn. Now, it is my best friend. Thank you, inventor of the green bulb syringe

4. There is something about becoming a mother that makes it easy to set aside yourself and care for your child. For example, I am currently covered in spit up, because I couldn't find a burp cloth fast enough for my little guy. ( why haven't I changed yet?? well.... that's another issue for another post. haha!)  Why is it so easy to be selfless for my baby and not my husband? I wish I could have seen my selfishness sooner, and been fighting it more  quickly. You would think that the person you CHOOSE to love and be faithful to your whole life would be the person that you would most easily serve, and yet it takes a baby given to me to make my selfishness clear.

Sorry for the long post... Last thing.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Kyle and I are memorizing scripture to have a prepared heart and mind. Well these are our first 3 verses. Join us in memorizing if you'd like.

1. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and this life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

2. Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to himself with his disciples he said to them, If anyone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life must lose it, and whoever would lose his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

3. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

the boys are asleep

At about 7:30 this evening both of my boys headed to bed. Actually, Kyle headed to the floor of Jonathan's room (saving the bed for me) He is missing us. Kyle sleeps in our room during the week, and I sleep in Jonathan's room so that I don't wake Kyle with the middle of the night feedings. He decided he needed to be with us tonight, but was pretty tired from waking up early and going to bed late and so I sent him to bed.. yes, at 7:30.

And Jonathan, well, he's going on 5 weeks old so he gets to sleep all the time.

I found myself with an evening alone and was able to pack Kyle's lunch, clean the kitchen, get his breakfast ready, and write this blog post. It's been rather nice.

I have a friend who posts random thoughts on Fridays, and I think Pioneer Woman does as well. I know it's not Friday, but I am going to share my 10 thoughts with you, feed my boy again, and then call it a night.

1. I can't wait for Easter! It's on my mind a LOT, and if I wasn't spending my time adjusting to motherhood, my house would already be completely decorated for it. It might be my favorite holiday. Yep. It's the favorite!

2. If you find yourself with some spare time you should listen to Alistair Begg's new series. He is doing a series on Heroes of the faith. SO GOOD!

3. My kid is the cutest! look at the fun pants he is wearing. I've been checking them out all day.

4. We've really been working on scheduling this week. We've only been at it a week and I am already going to tweek it just a bit... I feel kinda like I'm breaking the rules, I'm not super worried about it though, unless of course he never sleeps through the night because of my choices... ahhhh! ;-)

5. I am reading through the book of Acts. Why haven't I done that more?!

6. If you thought I attracted unsolicited conversations before because of my height... well, just add a baby to the mix. All the crazy's are coming out to play! .... or just have random conversations with me. For example:

Strange lady at Plowboys: "Oh what a beautiful baby, how old is he? Is it alright if I take a peek at him?"

Me: "He's 1 month, yes, you can look at him."

S.L.A.P.: (she starts to tear up.. really... I have a witness) Oh he is so precious... You know, I just took a baby bird home and tried to rescue him.

Me: (stunned, not knowing what to say... I mean she didn't give me any transition there... just beautiful baby to bird.) Ohhhh, that was nice of you.

S.L.A.P: yes, my grandkids found it and I took it home and I did what I could to save it. The next morning my grandson came over and asked about he bird, we walked outside to look at it, and it was dead.

Me: I'm..........so sorry.

S.L.A.P: "I'm taking it really hard."

Me: (and now my friend who is wondering what in the world is going on.) I can see that.

S.L.A.P: Well you just have the most beautiful baby, have a great day, bye.

7.  There is a lot of talk about the movie Frozen lately.. I liked Tangled way better, but I'll tell you, I can't get the songs out of my head! .... Love is an open Door, (door) Love is an open door with you, with You, with YOU, love is an open dooooooor.....

8. being a mom is the BEST!!!!

9. I can't keep track of the day of the week anymore. It's almost like every day is the weekend... is this just a new mom thing, or will I get my sense of time back?

10. I've been so thankful and amazed by Kyle.... I have married one amazing man! and what a SERVANT!

ok, well time to go feed again! and then sleep!!!

1 month

I cannot believe it's already been a month! There are so many things that J does that I don't wan to forget, and it is the best to see his little personality already showing.

He likes to cuddle, and LOVES to sleep on Daddys chest.
He is a "good" baby, not fussy.
He likes when I hold him and dance in the kitchen
He makes faces all the time, and he makes more faces in his sleep than when he is awake.
I love how he holds my hand when I feed him
He's started to smile (and not just gas smiles)
He looks just like his dad, but has my coloring.
I love to watch him dream... what do babies dream about?!
Being at home with him, is one of my greatest blessings.

My sweet son just wouldn't cooperate and let me take 1 month pictures of him...You know, the one where they are in a chair or on the couch with a "1 month" sign next to them in some cute outfit.. I did manage to snap pictures of him all day though.


Here are our 1 month photos.

a prepared heart and mind

Through a number of things... but mostly realizing that I am responsible (with Kyle) for the spiritual upbringing of Jonathan.... I have thought much about having a prepared heart and mind for the day I need to give a defense for my faith.

I was recently reminded that it is the past truths that you have hidden in your heart that keep you through a trial. We want to be preparing now, for our future trials. Kyle and I are choosing scriptures to memorize together that focus on the Lord's work, His calling for our lives, and finishing strong. (I'm sure we'll increase this list)

When I think about Jonathan, I can't wait to memorize with him, tell him Bible stories, and teach him songs... My prayer is that he will never remember not knowing the Lord. I pray he will be a Daniel. Alistair Begg recently challenged his congregation to be raising children to be Daniels, and then shared the lyrics to this old song.

1. Standing by a purpose true,
   Heeding God’s command,
   Honor them, the faithful few!
   All hail to Daniel’s band!
   • Refrain:
     Dare to be a Daniel,
     Dare to stand alone!
     Dare to have a purpose firm!
     Dare to make it known.
2. Many mighty men are lost,
   Daring not to stand,
   Who for God had been a host
   By joining Daniel’s band.
3. Many giants, great and tall,
   Stalking through the land,
   Headlong to the earth would fall,
   If met by Daniel’s band.
4. Hold the Gospel banner high!
   On to vict’ry grand!
   Satan and his hosts defy,
   And shout for Daniel’s band.
5.