Baylor... Two Months

My sweet Baylor Boy,
I knew I would blink and that the calendar would say March 12.  How can a mama's heart slow down time?  When I look at you right now, you are no longer my infant boy... but you are a full blown baby!  It's crazy how from four weeks to six weeks you changed so much physically!  Talk about putting on the chunk!  And then from six weeks to eight weeks you decided to wake up to the world!  I have loved to see "you" come alive!  You are beyond precious and a blessing to my heart!

I can't even tell you how much my love for you keeps growing!  My sweet baby, you have carved a sweet spot in my heart for yourself, and I love that!  I am enjoying you every day, and savoring these sweet days of holding little you in my arms... because they are flying by way too fast!

Here is all about you at 2 Months-

 

You are 13 pounds 3 ounces and 23.5 inches long.

You are in size 1 diapers and are wearing some 0-3 and some 3-6 month clothes. 

You are eating 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours.

Some days you spit up a little... some days you spit up a lot!

You will stay awake 1.5 to 2 hours after each feeding and then sleep until you are ready to eat again

At night you go to bed around 11... Wake up around 3.... then sleep until 6 or 7 am (give or take)

You loved to be bounced on the exercise ball... it will always chill you out.

You still love your bears.  They have received more smiles and coos than anything or anyone else.

You have grown to love your play gym and singing star... they are your new love.

I introduced you to the kick gym last week and it is starting to get some action.

You got your first cold which has been so sad! A little fever and lots of congestion and coughing.

You still like the green soothie paci, even though I am trying to get you to take a different one.

You have the sweetest personality ever!  So content!  So happy!  So precious!

You have started to smile which lights up my day every time!
Although... I have to work very hard to get a smile. 
And Daddy gets smiles much more easily than I do!  (stinker!)

You are starting to coo and "talk".  Your voice is precious.
You sleep in the cradle in our room, and I love having you close by.
You love to be swaddled when you sleep.

Your brothers and sisters LOVE you!
And I think you are starting to love them too.
Your favorite spot in our house is your bouncy seat!

You are my first baby who actually enjoys some tummy time. 
You prefer to be carried up on my shoulder or sitting in my arm facing out.
We've tried the ergo a few times... and you like it...
but you are so happy and content I don't think of using it much.

Your hair still sticks up in the back... and I love that!

In the last month you have gotten out and about for the first times...
Church, Coop, Library... and that's it.
I call you Bubby or Baylor Boy.

Baylor... you are a light and a joy in my days.
I still can't believe some days that you are mine!
You truly are a precious gift from God!

My Rock... My Refuge.

I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.

 

O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

~from Psalm 62

Big things on my mind these days...

School thoughts,

Kid thoughts,

Parenting thoughts,

Future thoughts...

Full days with school in full swing,

Daddy traveling more,

Activities here and there,

And the list of things I need to be getting done

growing bigger every day.

  My heart can feel overwhelmed so quickly.

When I wonder what the right decision is...

And I keep praying and asking for guidance.

When the needs of my children are greater than my two hands.

When I just don't know how to handle this or that situation anymore,

And when I just feel tired and alone.

 

So thankful that He gave me these words today.

Reminding me that He is my rock and my refuge,

and because of that I will never be shaken.

 

That when the big life issues that are pounding on my heart

 seem to overwhelm...

He is calling me to wait quietly...

Wait.

Quietly.

Wait quietly and know my hope and victory come from Him.

 O Jen, trust in Me at all times.
 Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your refuge.

Love,

Your Abba Father

February Fun

Moments of our February...

Getting back to school,

what many of our mornings look like.

School Fun...

Does it sink or float?

 Just us.

Oh that hair!

I just can't get over it!

My precious!

Four generations...blessed!

His favorite place to hang out... the bouncy seat.
The big kids call this look his "bug eyes"!

A new fun toy - (it still involves letters)

  Tall Towers!

Making his Valentine box for preschool...

wearing Mama's childhood apron.

My sweet splash of pink turned 6 1/2...

a half rainbow cake for this half birthday!

Where did my little girl go?

Celebrating Valentine's day at his preschool.

A special morning to spend with just my boy!

Building candy heart towers with each other... so many giggles!

Our traditional Valentine's Day Pizza and Cookie meal!

Saturday basketball - a first for him.
He learned a lot and his team ended up winning the 3/4 grade division.

I love this little guy so much!

Getting ready for bath time!

A common picture around here.

Morning Snuggles!

What my house looks like ALL day long...
letters everywhere!

One Month...

Just because I was curious...

Here are my little ones at one month old. 
 

After seeing them all together, I have no idea who really looks like who! 

I'm never good at that, but it is fun to see them together!

Things that make me smile...
Baylor has Ainsley's hair... except she had longer hair that stuck up even more!
Now that a few weeks have gone by... Baylor is looking a lot like a Kallan with dark hair!
Liam looks much older than 1 month in his picture... like he's ready to march off that couch and conquer the world!

I remember taking each of these pictures... and who I was as a mom at that time.
It overwhelms my heart.
So thankful that God has continued to walk with me though this journey of motherhood...
And He will be faithful to guide me as I mother these four He has chosen for me.

What a crew... each one a blessing in their own little way!

Kallan's Birthday

Kallan's 4th Birthday!

 His request... a Green Letter Party!

 

Our day started with a few gifts for the birthday boy!

His own tape dispenser, Writing paper, Magnet Numbers, and...

 CALENDARS!!!!

He was so excited!

 Then off he went to spend the morning at preschool!

He was thrilled to bring his birthday snack to share with his friends!

Popsicle cookies with Green K's on them! 

Perfect!

As soon as he got home, he spent some time with his new calendars!

He was delighted!

 Another specific request... "a Green letter K cake, with letters all over it"!

Done!

 Happy Birthday to you....

 After cake, a few more gifts...

Calendar pieces for our big calendar, a Duplo set, a giant tape measure,

and a Hungry Hippo game...

He was all smiles!

It was the best day.... celebrating our Kallan!

f.o.u.r.

My dear sweet Kallan,

Today you are four years old.  For some reason it is hard for me to believe that my cute, little, blonde boy will blow out four candles on his cake tonight.  In one year you will be five and turning the corner to start Kindergarten, and that seems mind boggling to me because it means you aren’t little, little any more.  Oh, I can't even think about it!

You are so excited about this day!  You have been anxiously waiting and waiting for the calendar to say February 18^th!  You have been giddy with excitement all day long and your smile has been shining from your face since the moment you woke up!  There have been squeals, and jumps in the air, and requests for us to sing Happy Birthday to you again and again.  You are delighting in this day… and we are delighting in you!

 I’ve been thinking the past few days about the words I would use to describe you right now as you turn four, and for some reason, I don’t think there are the right words to explain to you what you mean to me and our family.  I know I say this all the time, but you are my Joy Boy!  Your name means “Joy”, and there isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t bring us some type of joy or another.  You are so happy, so sweet, and so full of life.  The smallest things make you so happy!   I can honestly say that I really can’t remember a time when you were grumpy.  You are definitely a ray of sunshine in each day and you bring so many smiles to my face and delights to my heart!

One way I would describe you right now is that you love to learn.  I think I am daily baffled at what you understand and know when it comes to academics.  You are definitely a “self-taught” learner, as I rarely work with you.  You are seriously obsessed with letters.  You love to write them, color them, play with them, arrange them, and work with them ALL DAY LONG!  You can read and spell with ease…. Probably at a second grade level.  You would think we would get used to you doing this, but it still surprises us every day when you write words like “slide” or “place” or “stick” or “ketchup” perfectly or pick up any book and just start reading it.  God has gifted you with a special mind Kallan, and it is a joy to watch you learn and grow!

Your other obsession – numbers and calendars!  I giggled when I bought you a few new calendars for your birthday.  What four year old would delight in getting 2014 calendars?  YOU!  You can spend hours with your calendars, marking off days, checking dates, thinking about the months that special holidays and birthdays are in.  You have memorized many people’s birthdays, major and minor holiday dates, and even the first day of each season.  If I ever want to know what date Easter or Thanksgiving is on this year… or even when the first day of spring is, you already know it!  You love to write numbers into the ten and hundred thousand.  You think that skip counting is so fun and want to learn all the tables.  Oh Kallan, this is what makes you, YOU… and what makes you so special to us!  (A little nerdy, yes… but special too!)  J

Other things that make you special…
 

You are an introvert… You love to play by yourself and in a group you are pretty reserved and quiet.  But, get you one on one with someone you are comfortable with, and you will talk loud and non-stop for hours!

You love to be home and stay home, and many times skip going out and choose to stay home.  

You have a bear named “Baby” who you are a sweet daddy too… and Teny is your other bear/imaginary friend who you love. 

You are my most sensitive child.  Your feelings can get hurt fast, you cry big, crocodile tears easily, and you are just extra sensitive to the things around you.

When you talk to someone you want their full attention, and will usually put your hand on their face while you talk to them.

You have a blue and white striped blankie that you love and sleep all the time.

You love the color green, eating strawberries, playing with play dough, watching Leap Frog videos, playing outside, eating sweets, drinking milk, using tape, and playing “puppy”.

Your sweet smile, tender heart, and big dimples probably let you get away with more than you should, and they melt my heart every day!

Kallan, I pray that over this next year your heart would grow to love God more and more.  I pray that as you read your Bibles over and over, that the stories of God and His love would sink deep into your heart and that you would come to understand how much He loves you!  I pray that the joy God has given to you would spill over into the lives of those around you.  I hope you always know how special and precious you are to us… and how much we love you sweet boy!

Happy 4th Birthday Kallan!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

all your soul,

and all your mind....

Love your neighbor as yourself.

First Smiles...

Hello Precious!  I knew there were some smiles hiding in there! 

Baylor - 1 Month

Sweet Baylor Boy...  you are one month old today!

My heart is swelled with love for you, and at the same time can't believe that you are

one month already!  I know from experience that I'm going to blink and before I know it,

I'm going to be planning your first birthday and writing out what you are like at one year old.

Oh my heart!

But for today... I'm savoring you at one month!

  You weigh around 11 pounds, are in 0-3 month clothes and just moved into size 1 diapers

I'm beyond tickled by you, the thought that you are in my arms makes me smile, and I giggle when I think that I have a baby boy in my arms! 

You are a super good baby...  SO, SO content!

When you are fussy, I can usually find out what is wrong.

You love the bouncy seat - more than any of the other kids.

You are eating about 4 oz. every 3 hours or so.

You are usually awake about 1-2 hours after you eat during the day

then sleep until your next feeding.

You are doing great at night time!  You usually go down between 11 and 11:30... wake up around 3 to eat, and then sleep another 3-4 hours until you say Good Morning!

You have given us a few coos and a handful of smiles!

You love to be up over our shoulder being patted on the back.

You love to be bounced on the exercise ball - it ALWAYS makes you happy.

You like the green soothie paci - and so far won't take any other brand.

Your siblings adore you and are always checking on you, trying to make you happy, smothering you with love, and giving you kisses.  I say "Give him space!" about 100 times a day!

There are moments I see Kallan in you... and moments I see a little Liam...

and once in awhile a little Ainsley... It's kind of fun!

You have dark hair that I love!  Lots in the back... and a patch that sticks straight up on top!

Although you have mostly stayed home this last month, you like your car seat whenever we go out.

You like the bears on your changing table... in fact, they got your first real smile!

You love to be swaddled... and I love to swaddle you!

I am completely in love with you! I love being up in the middle of the night with you.

I love it when you stare at me with those deep eyes.

I love when you are crying and I pick you up, and you stop right away.

I am enjoying this newborn stage completely... more than I ever have before.

I am savoring each day with you because I know it goes fast!

You have my heart sweet Baylor, and I am so beyond thankful to God that He gave you to me

and that He chose me to be your mama!

I love you sweet boy!

Happy 1 Month of Life!