March

How is it that another month has gone by!

I have surrendered to the fact that although I would love to post or blog a few times a week...

(and usually write that many in my head...)

it may end up only being a few times a month.

It's just that season of life.

Kids.

School.

Activities.

Lists to do.

Wife and Mother.

It's a busy season for me... good, but busy.

But I want to remember these days and moments.  Even if just in pictures with a few words.

Maybe one day when I look back at them, I will remember all the posts I wrote in my head.

~smile~

 

This little guy has started to enjoy his bath time.

He's usually pretty serious during it... but content.

Love.

My boys.

The star and play gym he screamed in his first two months of life

he decided he actually enjoys!

Morning coos...

Our family of six.

I look at this and think... how in the world did we get four kids!

I love it!

His first walk/stroller ride outside.

I can't get over this picture!  He is so excited! :)

(really Mama?)

The walk only lasted 5 minutes since it was windy and colder than I thought...

but it's a first!

Sometimes this is how he plays...

This month you started to smile... and smile!

We didn't have to work so hard to get them and your personality is starting to shine!

My big kids went to Grandma's for the weekend,

and Kallan "discovered" Baylor.

"Hi Brother!!!"

It was as if he had been so distracted before this that

he didn't realize a baby had joined our home.

This weekend he was all into him as the official

Big Brother!

School is in full swing here...

and some days this is how it gets done.

My girl...

So creative.

So sweet.

So tender...

I love how this little creation she made just captures "her".

These are the days I have random block structures being built

every day in our school shelves.

Some days spelling words.

Some days making buildings.

Some day they won't be here anymore...

but for now, I'm cherishing each one!

Homeschooling can be busy and hard some days.

It makes for a full and active house.

But mornings like these make my heart smile.

It's 8:30 AM.

They have built a fishing boat and have been playing in it for quite awhile.

No rushing off to school.

Time to play and explore and build relationships with each other.

It's not like this every day...

but mornings like this make the hard and crazy days worth it.

Here come the big smiles!  :)

His eyes and eye lashes...

I.   C.A.N.   N.O.T.  G.E.T.   E.N.O.U.G.H!!!

Discovering the wonder of life!

Looking all preppy in his shirt and jeans.

Too cute!

Him.

All day long.

Letters.

Writing.

Playing by himself.

Entertaining himself in his own little world,

where someone has a birthday every day!

I love this boy! He brings joy and delight into each of my days!

Kallan - what would I do without you!

Happy March!

March Madness - A Birthday Party

He wanted a basketball themed birthday party with a sleepover.

So a little March Madness we did.

Probably the easiest party I've ever thrown.

Kind of nice considering the season of life I'm in right now.

 

Filling out their "Liam's Birthday Brackets" for the

NCAA tournament.  Of course each of them knew they picked "the winner"!

 He wanted Eileen's Cookies instead of cake.

Done.

 As for entertainment...

He wanted to go play at an arcade.

So daddy took the boys and they headed out to have some fun.

They had a great time together and were fairly tired by the time

it came to snuggle into their sleeping bags and go to sleep.

 

I'm thankful for the friends he has.

What a perfect party it was to celebrate this boy!

Happy birthday Liam!

 

The crew taking a nice picture for me...

 Letting their true inner selves shine!

Oh nine.



N.I.N.E.

It was just like yesterday that I was taking this sweet picture.

He was about three months old... the same age Baylor is right now.

I remember those eyes... that sweet smile... the coos...

He was my baby.  The one who gave me the name, Mama.

And now that baby is nine.

Just like that. 

And my heart is full of joy.  And my heart hurts.

Nine.

I'm realizing that nine means I'm traveling over the hump of having him under my wing.

In nine years... we will be two months away from celebrating his graduation from high school...

Can that be?

I'm half way done raising this boy child into a man?

Or, on most days feeling like I've just started.

His energy and love for life have not changed.

He wakes up ready to go and live life to the fullest.

He has a plan.  He has determination.  He knows what he wants in each day.

I feel like nine has been a turning point in this boy.

He is getting farther and farther away from his "little boy" ways and

replacing them with all things "tween"
He cares about his clothes.  He cares about his hair.

He is into sports and music and friends.

But I can look back at this picture with his little hat on and still see that smile some days.

And as far away as that little boys seems on some days... he's still in there.

I still see that little boy when he calls me Mama or Mommy.

Or when I get a random, hug or "I Love You".

Or when he asks for a snuggle... and I wrap my arms around this

long and lean body of his.

 Liam,

At nine you are determined, full of ideas, and love to be in charge.

You are creative, building and creating things for hours each day.

You love to build on Minecraft and with Legos.

I love how you still want to show me everything you create.

 

Learning comes so easy for you, and you love math, spelling, history...

and any "information" book you can check out of the library.

You love to read... especially "comic- like" books.

You also have a love for any electronic game you can get your hands on.

 

You love sports (to play and to watch) and you love your team to win...

whether you are watching or playing.

You eat all the time.  You love Italian food, grilled meat, and anything sweet.

You can't stand peas, certain casseroles, and have lost the love for milk.

You want to wear gym shorts every day and you like to "swish" your hair to the side.

Your "style" has become very important to you.

My sweet boy,

My prayer for you on your ninth birthday is that

a love for God and His Word would continue to grow in you...

and that you would have a deep desire to live it out. 

I pray that all the head knowledge you have about God and the Bible 

would continue to take root in your heart - growing you and changing you

into the young man of God He longs you to become.

And as more choices and decisions come your way... and are yours to make,

that you would hear God directing your heart and life... leading you always.

He has amazing plans for you, my son.

I am trusting Him that He will give me and your dad the tools we need

to continue to lead and guide you during these next nine years you are under our wing.

And when the time comes for you to fly...

you will do just that.

Happy 9th Birthday Liam!

You are loved!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My Green Team!

(Thanks Grandma Kate for the fun green shirts!)

 

My Little Man... sporting green for his first St. Patrick's Day!

What you looking at???

 

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!