Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Grace in the Midst of Trial

At first sight of this picture, my first thought is "this is why child labor laws were created". I mean, I am certainly starting at a young age teaching Mary Lindsey about the joys of folding and putting away laundry...a task I really do not like! She is not wonderful at this task at the present time, but she has the will and drive to learn the skill in the months and years to come. She loves to see a load of laundry coming. She watches how I fold and tries to help...really she slows me down more than anything. But to watch her, she really feels like she is helping me. So basically laundry normally takes me 5 times as long as it should, but we have lots of fun doing it.
I know many of you that read this blog are mothers. I have enjoyed getting emails from some of you about different posts and looking at yours. It is fun to see pictures and hear what is going on in your lives. This is truly one of my windows to the world right now. Having two children under 2 keeps you around the house a lot. And I have to make a confession. My emotional, phyical, and spiritual state over the past week has felt a lot like this bed of laundry looks...chaotic and a heavy load to bear! Yesterday I had my first big meltdown while Larry was at work. It was one of those mornings that I had been up since 4:30 and by 2:00pm I still had no shower. As soon as one child was either sleeping or content the other began to cry. To be honest, I just wanted to go sit in the bathroom by myself and cry, but I didn't even have time to go do that. My house pretty much looked like that pile of laundry does, and housework seemed completely out of the question. I yelled at Mary Lindsey for the first real time and I promise it hurt me way more than it hurt her. I sat down and cried with her. I was so convicted because I yelled at my daughter to leave me alone so I could read my bible and have some time with God. I spiritually felt completely drained and alone. God seemed SO FAR from my surroundings. Thankfully a few hours later I did have some time to sit and cry to my heavenly Daddy and admit my weakness and feeling of so many fears and failures as a mother. I was brought to this passage. "They go from strength to strength. Psalm 84:7" In my daily routine as a mother, I often times feel myself grow tired and weary of all the work at hand. But because I am a child of God I have a perfect portion of Grace and strength given to me each moment. It was such a relief to remember that it is my Jesus loving these children through me. It is Him that is sustaining me and speaking through me and rocking through me and filling juice cups and changing diapers when to be honest I am tired. My prayer is today that God would renew my strength and give me His hands and words as I serve my family. I am reminded of HOW BLESSED I AM! I have 2 healthy children who I dearly love, a best friend for my husband, and friends and family who love and pray for us. I went to bed last night a woman filled with joy and thankfulness that God has trusted me with this task. I guess I am writing this to encourage some of you. You are not alone! We all have times of self pity and weakness. But we also have a Savior who is bigger than our trials and afflictions...and He promises in the midst of it all sufficient Grace.


I had to slip in a picture of Luke. He slept while we folded laundry. (On a side note...look at how long he is! He is almost the full width of the pack and play!)




Monday, August 24, 2009

Storytime...Melt my heart!


Larry and I thought this was a precious moment that Mary Lindsey and Luke shared this evening. We always have story time before bedtime and Mary Lindsey's favorite book is her "Where is Elmo" book. Tonight she wanted to show Luke her book and as she turned the pages she talked as if she were reading to him. I mean, melt a mommy's heart! She really loves her brother. She kissed and hugged all over him. And he just stares back at her in amazement! I pray that they always share a strong bond and friendship. I know I am thankful for my little sister! What a blessing siblings are!

Beautiful Day for the Park!

Just some really cute pics of the kids at the park today. The weather here is absolutely beautiful! So when Larry got home late this afternoon we loaded up the kids and went to enjoy the great outdoors! It was wonderful!
Throwing the ball! She would throw the ball and chase after it laughing. So sweet!

Going down the big slide with Daddy!


What should I do next....

I know...I'll play in the sand...


Mr. Luke catching some rays on his blanket. He will be chasing after Bit Bit in no time!

My sweet boy....Larry corrects me and tells me to call him "wild man". But right now he is my baby!







Luke's Bathtime

As you can see from the above picture, Luke is not a huge fan of bathtime. Infact, Luke is not a huge fan of anything that involves taking his clothes off. He much prefers to be swaddled and cuddled close to you. As his mommy, I really like this because Luke and I get to spend a lot of time together cuddling. Hopefully, this will continue for years to come!
He did calm down for a few minutes and seems to enjoy the warm water. Notice the washcloth. Very purposefully placed in this location...I am still getting used to changing a little boys diaper and bathing a boy. Much different from a little girl!

Thinking about having a meltdown in this photo...

And we are now REALLY ready for mommy to hurry up and put his clothes on and wrap him in a warm blanket. He took a 2 hour nap after this bath. I guess I need to start giving him baths every night before bedtime!



Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Day in the Life...

How precious is this?! He is swaddled in his warm blanket and perfectly content to sit for hours. Luke really is the sweetest baby!
Eventually, he falls asleep...

These pictures I think are so funny...notice the drool spot under his mouth. I had just given him a small bath and he was COMPLETELY worn out from SCREAMING at the top of his lungs. He really does not like having his diaper or clothes changed. And he HATES bath time!
I would not have worried with giving him a bath tonight, but when I was changing his diaper this evening he "whizzed" all over himself...so that was a one way ticket to the sink. Bless his heart, it wore him out! He looks so long in this picture too!
He is so handsome!
This evening I asked Mary Lindsey to smile for the camera...this is what I got! I love her so much!
Good night everyone! Sleep tight! I hope we do!




Monday, August 10, 2009

The Dynamic Duo's First Day Out

I had to post pictures of today so I had proof we actually survived! Today I ventured out of the house with both children and did a little shopping and had lunch with a good friend. And can I just say..."whew!" Mommy needs a nap...and a stiff drink if I was a drinker...but I am not! (not yet anyway...kidding mother!) Our adventure was quite uneventful as far as any outbursts or bodily fluid disasters, which I think pretty much means it was success. Granted I had the help of my good friend Missy, who might I add is scheduled to give birth to a precious little girl in less than 3 weeks! How hilarious that my most pregnant friend was the one helping me with Mary Lindsey! If she does not go into labor this afternoon it will be a miracle! Love you Missy!
The above picture was taken when we got home. I think this picture is hilarious for several reasons. Number one look at Mary Lindsey. That smile is so typical her right now! So full of herself and good for a laugh. The cookie coming out of her mouth cracks me up! And please look at Luke. He is making a peace sign with his fingers. But please check out his toes! I mean...those are some long toes. Finger Toes! Surely he is going to be tall just so he grows into his feet...if not we will have to have special shoes made. Just kidding buddy! Mommy loves your toes!

In this picture, Luke surely looks terrified! He is screaming and holding his hands up as if to say "no, no!" Mary Lindsey loves to poke at him...he is not a big fan at times.

Now, this is sweetness. I love how she always kisses his forehead when we tell her to give him kisses. She does really love him!

And, after about 30 seconds total...she has had enough! See ya Luke! On to bigger and more exciting things!



Saturday, August 8, 2009

Luke and Mary Lindsey

My sweet little man sleeping! Isn't he beautiful!
Here is Mary Lindsey playing with his "piggies". We do this a lot! She LOVES his feet!

Here she is standing over him talking to him in the sweetest voice. She listens to how I talk to him and then tries to copy what I do. It is so cute!


You can't really tell but here she is leaning down to give him sugar! How precious!

Doesn't he have long toes!? He has long feet and long toes...some say this means he will be tall. Who knows! All I know is it looks like he could climb trees with those toes!


Mary Lindsey kept wanting him to play with his puppy. He was more interested in eating his hand!

I took the kids to Larry's softball game the other night. Mary Lindsey did wonderful and loves to cheer for her Daddy. She yells "GO GO" and jumps up and down. So cute!


Luke missed the entire event.


I have yet to get a really cute picture of the two of them. Mary Lindsey is either not looking at the camera or does not want to smile. Man is it hard to photograph two kids!!! But here they are in our double stroller for the first time. How hilarious! People's reactions to two babies was really funny!







A quick update on what is going on! Luke had a wonderful second full week at home. To say he is a good baby is really an understatement. He has fit into our family perfectly and is a loving and sweet tempered little boy. He lets his mommy love on him all day and I love that!

Mary Lindsey is a WONDERFUL big sister! She truly loves her little brother and shows great concern when he cries. She goes to wherever he is when he cries and stands there with her hands up and eyebrows raised as if to say, "mommy, take care of him!" She kisses him and pats his head (sometimes harder than others) and waves to him all day long. I have to be careful when I put him in his swing because she brings him all her toys and wants to read him books. He genuinely looks scared at times, but watches her every move when he is awake (which is not that much yet.) I think he is going to adore her in the months and years to come. I hope so!
Luke wakes me up on a normal night only twice, which is wonderful! Some nights are more if his stomach is upset. But even when he wakes me up he does not cry much. He just wants to be held and bounced. He is most of the time easy to please and goes with the flow.

Here are some recent pictures of he and Mary Lindsey. What precious children God has blessed us with! And I have to brag on Larry...he is an amazing Daddy! He and Mary Lindsey have become very close over these past few weeks. She LOVES her Daddy and he really makes my life so much easier when he gets home in the evening. He feeds her dinner and gives baths and is her playmate all evening long. If I left the country she would not care a bit as long as she was with her Daddy! Maybe in the coming months I will get back in her good graces when Luke is not quite so needy...I think she is destined to be a Daddy's girl though!