Picture Attempt...

This one is my favorite...Mary Lindsey: "Pipe down Luke! Put your big boy pants on!"

Well, I tried to get a cute picture of the kiddos. I am learning how hard this can be. Luke is 10 weeks old, and I am yet to get a really good picture of the 2 of them looking at the camera with normal expressions on their faces. This was my attempt earlier in the evening. Neither of them were feeling it tonight. But, oh how they make me laugh!

One word...POOP.

Life is funny...and I am convinced these past few days that God definitely has a sense of humor...especially with me as I adjust to life with 2 children under the age of 2!
Let me say this...be careful what you tell God you are going to do...because He has a wonderful way of testing us to see how truthful we really are...let me explain.
Yesterday my wonderful husband preached a sermon out of Proverbs about "work" and how each of us should be productive and JOYFUL when it comes to the work God has given us because it is a blessing! There was more to the sermon than this, but the main thing that I personally walked away with is that I needed to find JOY in all the small, mundane tasks I have throughout my day. I need to focus on the BIG picture...the fact that I have the blessing of being home with my precious babies during these fleeting years of being infants and toddlers, instead of the monotony of feeding and changing diapers.
So...when we got in the car headed home I said to my sweet husband, "sweetheart, this week I am going to really focus on being joyful at all times with the children. I am even going to be joyful about changing diapers!" He just laughed and we drove on.
About 3 hours later, God began to put my joy to the test! I know we mothers tend to give a bit too much information. Larry tells me this often. But you have to know that Luke suffered from some constipation yesterday. So around 4 I put a "silver bullet" as Larry refers to them up his rear end. On top of being constipated he was very hungry. And he was SCREAMING! So after insertion, I began to nurse him. I am sitting on our bed holding my little bundle of joy, when he begins to "do his business" lets just say. He was making the sweetest little noises and I could tell that progress was being made...boy was it! Luke proceeded to make the biggest diaper I have ever seen. If fact, it made its way out of his diaper from every direction, onto me, onto our bed. It was even in his hair somehow. All this in the matter of seconds I tell you! GROSS!
After he has a bath, I had a bath, clothes and sheets made it to the washing machine...I hear Mary Lindsey...she was up from her nice Sunday afternoon nap. I get Luke situated and go into Mary Lindsey's room to get my sweet baby girl. I open the door...and I smell it...I turn on the light and I SEE it! Oh yes, she has TAKEN OFF her diaper and POOPED in her bed...that is right, ON her bed! You see, after lunch, Larry just took off her dress, changed her diaper and placed her in bed with JUST her diaper on. We both do this at times because it is just easier. Well, it back fired!
Yall, it was horrible. It was everywhere. Straight to the bath tub she went...as I tried to hold it together. Every piece of material in her bed needed to cleaned!
Back to what I was telling you earlier...finding JOY in changing diapers! I can honestly tell you that God was faithful...and that my decision to be joyful certainly helped. On any other day, I would have probably been in tears and so frustrated...but I just laughed...and held my nose!
I LOVE my kids! They are the JOY of my life! But hopefully, we will deal with a little less POOP today!

Luke Haddon is Eight Weeks Old!

Luke Haddon LeBlanc at 8 weeks old.

Look at that HANDSOME SMILE!

Luke and his proud big sister!

Come on Mary Lindsey, I told you I don't want that!

Finally, she's gone!

Little Mama...she will probably act this way toward Luke the rest of his life.

Watching Elmo together!

He is not doing what she wants him to...

I said to eat Luke!

She cracks me up!

My sweet man!

WE LOVE YOU LUKE!

Enjoy some cute pics taken of the kids over the past few days. It is so hard to believe that today Luke is 8 weeks old! Time has flown by! He is changing so much and getting bigger with each passing day.

Luke loves it when you talk to him and make noises and tickle his tummy. He can follow objects that you place in front of him for a pretty good amount of time now. He likes blinking lights and bright colors. He likes his "nuk" (pacifier) at certain times. Other times he likes to suck on his arm or hand. Luke really likes to be held close and bounced when he is fussy or his tummy hurts. His hobbies or main pass times presently are passing gas and filling big diapers ( and my goodness can he ever!), lots of sleeping, and generally making everyone around him super happy!

Mary Lindsey is a huge fan of her little brother. Most days she would like it if I would just leave and let her take care of him. She likes to help give him his bottle and when I am holding him and patting his back she likes to pat his back too. She talks to him often and he responds with a smile most of the time.

I hope you enjoy the pictures! These two children are the greatest gift God could have given Larry and me, second only to our salvation. We are so thankful for the last 18 months with Mary Lindsey and the past 8 weeks with Luke. May we daily go to our heavenly Daddy for guidance and wisdom and love as we raise these two precious little people. May they see Jesus in this home and in family and friends that surround them so that they will one day know Jesus personally! Thank you for going along on this journey with us all who read this blog. I hope God is extra good to you today!

Labor Day Weekend with Gigi, Pops and Holli!

Luke getting a little breakfast before church and Mary Lindsey making sure she has everything she needs in her diaper bag!

Me and my beautiful sister and Bit Bit!

Gigi and Pops and Luke before church...I think Luke has Pops' height.

Getting some good love from Gigi...he looks so happy...

Bit Bit showing off...shocking!

Bit Bit reading with Gigi...one of her favorite things!

These are some pictures that I have needed to post from our wonderful time with my parents and sister who came to spend a few days with us over Labor Day weekend. We did nothing but laugh and play and read books and sing songs and give lots and hugs and kisses all weekend. It was so much and we are looking forward to another visit with them really soon! So we want to tell them that we love you Gigi, Pops and Aunt Holli very much! Lots of love from Mississippi to South Carolina!!!

Bit Bit's First Tea Party

Today we went to a Tea Party and Bit Bit had so much fun! Even though she was the youngest guest at the Tea Party, she ate her food wonderfully...I was so proud of her! She looked so big sitting at the table with all the older girls. She is eating with her fork and spoon pretty impressively these days...however, when the glass cups were passed around, we decided to use a sippy cup instead.

She was a perfect little lady today! Luke was such a trooper as well. I took him and he sat in his car seat the entire time and never really cried once. Mary Lindsey was so proud to show him off to all the little girls there. I think he is going to be a charmer like his older sister...he seemed to smile on cue when someone was talking to him. I guess it just runs in our family!

Sweet Luke...

I do not know why this struck me so funny, but it did...when you have a HYPER 18 month old in the house, you are trying to get dressed, put on a load of clothes, clean up breakfast, listen to your husband, and get out the door on time, there are moments that I forget about sweet Luke. I know, I know, he is going to read this one day and say "thanks mother!" But he is such a good baby most of the time, and unfortunately "the sweaky wheel gets the grease" as the old saying goes.

To make a long story short, Larry stayed home this morning to be Mr. Mom. I got to escape for a few hours and take an aerobics class (yes, this is the first big physical activity I have had in a year...I am SORE!) When I got home things were nuts for a while. Baby's crying, one running around naked, phones ringing...so I was running through the kitchen and I look over and the picture above is what I saw. Sweet Luke just sitting in his car seat, in the middle of the kitchen table, in just a diaper, smiling. I know Larry put him there so he could go do something else really fast, but I was not expecting it. Bless his precious little heart, he was just sitting there by himself not making a sound...smiling! How cute. It was like he climbed up there all by himself to escape the chaos.

I know I post more about Bit Bit right now. Truth is Luke really just sleeps a lot right now. But he is such a loving and sweet baby boy.

He is SMILING so much more now. He can follow you with his eyes for a short period of time. He is VERY observant and alert when he is awake. My favorite part about him right now is that he lets you cuddle him. I hope he always does that for me!

First Day of 1 year old Preschool!

This is her school bag...contents for each day: diapers, wipes and a change of clothes. No toys allowed...however, daddy let her take Dolly this morning. Such a sucker!

This is the Daily Report we get each day. Very detailed...down to her bowel movements...hilarious! She is my child...she ate VERY WELL at snack time. Thankfully, she was happy all morning and played on the playground.

This is Bit Bit's first craft in 1 year old preschool. It is a tree made out of construction paper, streamers, and a toilet paper roll. She is very proud of her tree! She has said 'tree' all afternoon.

Here is Daddy getting kisses early this morning. I had to wake her up at 7:30. She was sound asleep...but woke up in a great mood!

Here she is being loaded into the car by Daddy...such a big girl. Of course we have our nuk and our Dolly.

When I picked her up from school we went to the park with some other mom's and kids. Here she is playing with sidewalk chalk.

And she loves the slide!

Swinging with one of her friends.

Hanging with the older girls...of course!

Once we got home she thought she would read to Luke and tell him all about what she learned at school. He was very interested! He has started smiling at Mary Lindsey this week and she LOVES it!

Continuing the lesson..pay attention Luke!

She rode on her rocking horse for the first time today! It was a big day!

Today was a very big day at our house! Mary Lindsey began 1 year old preschool today...and she did wonderful! We decided to begin sending her two mornings a week to a local methodist church here in town. They have a wonderful preschool program that many of my friends children attend. We thought this would be beneficial to Mary Lindsey for socialization and also learning and FUN! Larry and I have been so excited about sending her until the past few weeks. Bit Bit has been struggling with seperation anxiety and it broke our hearts to think about her crying and upset when we left her at school. So this has been the topic of much prayer in our house. Well God answered our prayers. Not only did she not cry when Larry took her to her room this morning, but she did not shed a tear all day according to her teacher. And when I picked her up she smiled and said "mama" in the sweetest most calm little voice. She was not upset at all...a HUGE answer to prayer. I especially have struggled the past few days over feeling guilty about sending her at all since I am home. But the Lord reaffirmed what we decided months ago...this will be a wonderful experience for our sweet Bit Bit! I hope you enjoy the pictures from our day.

Oh, Luke is doing great too! He and I had a fun morning visiting with friends. He had his first play date with my friend Missy's brand new little girl...they both just slept!