Moving Day!

So now, hubby and I are homeowners!  It's the best Christmas present we could ever have asked for.  It's amazing how different it feels to have your own home!  I love it so much.  I can already tell a difference in the kids too...they are trying to let it sink in that we don't ever have to move again, poor dears (God willing, of course.)  There is a forest/state park across the street that we didn't even know about, where the kids can go on nature walks (which Jackson LOVES), and where JW and I can run to our hearts' content.  There are deer that just show up in our yard.  We have a fire pit on our front patio and we actually had s'mores on Christmas Day!  All the boxes are unpacked, the house feels like our HOME, and we are so thankful.  I am so excited about the memories we will be creating in our new dwelling. 

Tears

So, it seems everyone is posting and blogging about the horrible tragedy in CT last week; and me, not usually one for news, can't stop thinking about it either.  I've been crying randomly, just imagining dropping your sweet child off at school and...that's it.  Especially at Christmastime, when the excitement and joy usually are running high, and our minds are constantly racing to find new ways to bring the magic of Christmas to their lives.  This picture was posted on facebook, and I love it.  It is comforting to me to imagine Jesus there with those 20 children even before the event happened, waiting with them, easing their fears, possibly even showing them His glorious face so they would not see the bloodshed around them.  I'm weeping right now.  And you know what..."Jesus wept" too.  And I love it that our President reminded our nation of that fact...He is crying with us all too.  And He is here to give us a hug and wrap us in his warm, strong embrace.  Let's run into His arms right now and be comforted; hug your children tighter tonight; and pray for our nation, which is somehow seeking God even more it seems like after this tragedy.  Once again, Romans 8:28...

The Liebster Award

I am so excited to tell you that I was nominated for the Liebster award by Natalie Lingren at "The Nurse Practicioner Mom".  Thank you so much Natalie for nominating me and for your great blog, which I discovered while doing the Five Minute Friday series on lisajobaker.com, a great way to meet other bloggers.   Liebster means dearest or favorite. According to Natalie “It's an award for new and upcoming bloggers who have great potential.”



There are a few rules for this award:

1.Thank the person who nominated you and link back to the nominator in your post.

2. List 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer the 11 questions presented by your nominator.

4. Create 11 questions for your nominees and answer those too.

5. Nominate 11 fabulous up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers for the Liebster Award.

Eleven Random Facts About Me:

1. My favorite "food" is Cool Whip.

2. I love to scrapbook and wish I could spend more time doing so.

3. I wish I could be a stay-at-home-mom, but I'm also thankful that God has called me to service as a physician.

4. My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 37:4, and has been since high school when I first became a Christian.

5. I speak Spanish.

6. My favorite book is Anne of Green Gables.

7. My favorite movie is "Legally Blonde."

8. The best day of my life was when I became a mommy.

9. I drink too much Diet Coke.

10. I won't water my flowers and they die very early.  No clue why I do this.

Questions for me from my nominator:

1. How did you meet your significant other? When I was in med school at Michigan State, a guy I had a crush on introduced us--we talked on the phone for a month, finally met, and despite 2 break-ups and some drama (on my part, of course), we have been married now for 6 years and have 2 kids ages 2 and 4.

 

2. Vacation at the mountains or the beach? Beach, preferrably in NC

 

3. Favorite childhood book?  Anne of Green Gables

 

4. Are you cooking a Holiday meal? Are you happy about this?  I just cooked my first Thanksgiving meal with my mom's help, and it went very well.  We are moving into our first house on Dec. 21, so I'm thinking very low key for Christmas dinner.  I will probably enlist my mom's help again.

 

5. What current project are you working on?  Learning all I can about Sensory Processing Disorder and autism so that I can better help my son succeed in life.

 

6. Do you own an Esty shop, and if so what is the URL so we can check it out? I wish!  But my friend's shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/ittybittyforkids?ref=em, so you can check that one out.
 

7. If money wasn’t a factor and your kids were all grown what career would you choose?  Same as now, family doctor delivering babies. 

 

8. Cloth or disposable? Napkins, diapers, towels, or nursing pads…your choice.  All disposable.  I applaud those who can use cloth diapers, though.

 

9. Are you a messy or a cleany?  Somewhere in between, though I think my husband would call me messy.  I am very organized, but sometimes I get overwhelmed and tired and don't always pick up after myself.  I try to live by the poem in this post.

 

10. What kitchen appliance can you not live without?   coffee machine--I still use an "old-fashioned" type vs the pods.

 

11. Favorite season?   Autumn--the pretty leaves and the anticipation of Christmas to come.

Questions for my nominees:
1.  What is your favorite thing about blogging?  I love to get a chance to express my thoughts creatively, and I love the opportunity to feel connected to other moms.

2. What is a New Year's Resolution that you find yourself making year after year?  I'm going to read my Bible every day.

3. How do you find time to stay connected with your "real-life" friends?  It's really hard; I have to make a conscious effort to call when I can concentrate and not be distracted by crying babes in the background.  Face-time is very hard for me still.

4. Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest?  Facebook sometimes, it lets me feel connected to friends that I'm far away from.  Never Twitter yet (maybe if I had a smartphone).  Pinterest on occasion, but it kind of makes me gloomy that I'm not making all of the cool things I see on the site.

5. What is one of your favorite TV sitcoms from when you were growing up?  The Cosby Show.  I still love to watch reruns.

6. What is a piece of clothing that you wear even though it's embarrasing?  A hunter green Winnie-the-Pooh sweatshirt from the Disney store from high school; I don't wear it out, but I love it.  Embarrasing!!

7. What is one thing you are proud of from your school years that you sometimes think about to make yourself feel better?  I won the spelling bee in 8th grade!  (But then I misspelled "gherkin" at the State Bee.  Darned pickles.)

8. What movie are you looking forward to watching this holiday season--holiday classic and one coming out in the theaters.  "Elf," with Will Ferrell, and "Les Miserables" in theaters.

9. What books are on your nightstand to read right now?  "The Out of Sync Child Has Fun," and "Jesus Calling" devotional.

10.  What did you make for dinner tonight?  Cheesy Garlic Chicken in the CrockPot from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

My 11 Nominees:
Emily Nelson at http://emilyfirebrand.com/
Meg Danekas at Itty Bitty
Andrea Long at Full Circle
Bekah Kaskubar at The K-bar Ranch
Becky Emerick at Reaching Ahead
Julie at Mercy Notes
Erika at Ltrs2mom
Ali at Glory Itches
Michelle at Moments with Michelle
Kelly at Rocke Blog
These Little Lives

Five Minute Friday: Wonder

From a series on lisajobaker.com
This one is easy!  I've been admiring the wonder of my children surrounding this beautiful season of Christmas.  They are so excited by Christmas lights, our Little People nativity set, and the idea of Santa coming to bring them toys (of course).  Two nights ago I had one of the best times with them that I've had in months.  I took them to the mall to go to Barnes and Noble (a weekly ritual), but we decided to walk around the mall to check out the Christmas decorations.  When we walked into the mall, we found out it was Spirit Night at the North Pole, and "Santa" was decked out in UNC Tarheel apparel.  I couldn't resist...despite messy hair and being in "normal" clothes, I decided to have their picture taken.  What better way to document our first Christmas back in North Carolina than to have UNC Tarheels plastered on Santa's shirt, ha!

Savannah was afraid at first, but once she got to hold Rudolph, all was right with the world.  :)

Next, we managed to go to B+N, and Savannah pointed at this older gentleman, roundish, white hair, and a red shirt from his employer, "Apple;" she started saying, "Santa, Santa!"  I explained to the man, named Ralph, that she thought he was Santa because we just came from seeing Santa, and he looks a little like Santa because he, um, has white hair too, yeah.  :)  He took it great, and then proceeded to answer the kids' questions about the North Pole.  It was priceless.  I was cracking up, but just enjoying the moment.  At the end, he praised me on my well-behaved and extremely "bright" children; always something nice to a momma's ears! 

On our way out of the mall, Jackson was in amazement over the strategically placed rocks outside that played Christmas music--he didn't want to leave!  It was really cute, which made another nice stranger laugh and we had a nice conversation about kids and he ended with saying how cute my kids were.  Again, filling up my tank with compliments over my kids that I just haven't heard in awhile, so it was very much well-needed.

God knows just what we need and when we need it, and He planned a great evening filled with "chance" encounters for me to get encouraged.  I am filled with Wonder and Awe at He who knows the intricacies of my soul and who loves me so much that He sent His only son as a baby on Christmas, to be my Savior.  Wow.  Don't you just love Christmas?

Five Minute Friday (2 days early): Happy Thanksgiving!

I just read a post on the importance of thanking God for the hard things, which really speaks to my heart this Thanksgiving Eve.  Thanking God for your adoring husband, beautiful and thriving children, nice house, rewarding job, etc, is kind of easy.  Thanking God for the trials of raising a special needs child (SO wierd to think of it this way), the challenges of marriage, the heartache of moving, house-hunting woes, and financial stress, is a lot harder.  I'm not saying life is horrible, it's actually wonderful, and I'm thanking God for making "all things new."  He has a way of turning it all out for good, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."--Romans 8:28.  But remembering to thank God FOR the hard things instead of just praying for Him to rescue me from them, is a new way to think about it, and as I enter into Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, I will be singing praises to the One who will always work it out.  :)

Five Minute Friday: Roots

From a series by lisajobaker.com

I was watching "Love It or List It" on HGTV the other night, one of my new obsessions since we are in the house-hunting process ourselves, and as the couple was going through a renovation of their basement, they were met with a problem--roots from the big trees in their yard had infiltrated under the house and into the pipes.  So of course, they could not complete their renovation due to this problem.  It got me thinking though, when I saw the topic for today.  Sometimes, in our lives, their are "roots" that grow deep into our innermost spirit and prevent renewal and renovation from happening.  Sometimes those roots are discouraging thoughts that are not from Him; sometimes they are memories of sins that I have not fully repented of; sometimes they are feelings of inadequacy that stem from childhood.  Whatever they are, until they are cut down, true healing and "renovation" cannot occur.  For me, the roots are thoughts that God doesn't love me, He's not really here with me, I'm not deserving of Him and His gifts of mercy and grace...all lies!  Gradually, through prayer, He is sawing down those roots, getting rid of them and their poison that infiltrates my "pipes."  It is clear to me more than ever right now in this time of trial that He is here with me, and no matter what is going on, He is the same God forever.  And ever. 

J.W. and I are loving the song by Laura Story right now, "Blessings:"
"What if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"


Click here to read more about the story behind this amazing song.

Five Minute Friday: Voice

from lisajobaker.com


"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a VOICE behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'”--Isaiah 20:31

"Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.  When Elijah heard the quiet VOICE, he muffled his face with his great cloak..."--1 Kings 19:11-13 (The Message)

God DOES have a VOICE, and He DOES speak to us.  He directs us in the way to go.  But He isn't loud about it, He uses a "still, small voice."  He doesn't yell.  Yet we can still hear Him.  If we listen. 

I've been at a loss lately on what to do about my son.  My little boy.  My firstborn whom I so adore.  I want to help him so badly.  It's hard to know the right direction to go in a new place and in a situation in which I never imagined I would find myself.  I've really had to listen to God's VOICE, praying incessantly.  Less of a get-down-on-your-knees-for-a-specific-prayer-time and more of a throughout-the-day-with-every-breath praying.  God has been speaking, and when I hear, I move forward.  Contacts I have called have been the right ones--the ones that "just so happen" not to have a wait list to be seen.  A doctor who said, "I see 4 yr old boys who get kicked out of preschool all the time, and I can help him."  Amen.  I'm relying on His whisper in my ear.  Which means less of my earbuds playing my iTunes music.  It also means being okay with just feeling His presence inside, which often just pulls tears from my eyes. 

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to your Word tonight and for reminding me how you have been speaking to me in your still small voice.  Amen.

Five Minute Friday: Look

From lisajobaker.com

Look at me, mom.  Look beyond my misbehavior.  Look beyond my unruliness.  Look beyond my rude words.  Look at my heart.  I'm still the little boy you nursed for 15 months.  I'm still the one who climbs into bed with you to snuggle in the wee hours of the morning.  I'm still the one who sneaks into sister's room to tell her "it's okay, don't cry."  I'm still the one who makes you laugh.  I don't want you to see the bad, just see the good.  I want to do the right thing, but sometimes my body doesn't let me.  Something's not right.  Can you help me?  Can you see my heart?  Don't give up on me yet.  Look.

Five Minute Friday: Race...

Part of Five Minute Friday at lisajobaker.com

Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the RACE marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

This life is a race.  I love the Five Minute Friday series because I'm never sure in what direction the topic will lead my writing, but it's usually spiritual-related rather than the funny and cute mommy posts I usually do on my blog.  This verse immediately came to mind when I read the topic.  I've always loved it, being a runner for many years.

I imagine someone running, stripping themselves of heavy clothing and being basically naked to get to the finish line faster.  Jumping over complex patterns of strings that threaten to trip the runner, like an obstacle course (sin).  I imagine Jesus at the finish line, beckoning, shouting, "You can do it, keep your eyes on Me, you're almost there!"  I remember the last stretch of the Pittsburgh Marathon, how I was just thinking of being done, and how I would be able to rest, and drink some water, and see my family (and J.W., who of course had finished before me).  I wouldn't even THINK of stopping when I saw the finish line in front of me.

In life, Jesus is right in front of me, if I choose to see Him.  So I can't even CONSIDER stopping; persevere, keep running the awesome race of life, because when it's over, I will get to rest and replenish, and see loved ones too!  What a beautiful metaphor.  But in life, it's not about running the race fastest, it's more about living WELL, which I am seeking to do more and more of.  And God is showing me every day little glimpses of his care along the way.  He's like the race volunteers that hand out vaseline for your chafed body parts, twizzlers, gatorade, and water.  He doesn't leave us to run the race alone, He helps us out along the way.  Very cool.  :)

Five Minute Friday: Welcome...Home!

How do you make an apartment welcoming to 2 little kiddos who are used to a house?  I tried to unpack their rooms as fast as I could, complete with welcoming touches like rugs and pics on the wall, their favorite stuffed toys in visible spots, and a new decorative pillow thrown in for good measure.  I decorated for fall with pumpkins.  And I'm trying to be more peaceful in my spirit.  But it's hard to feel welcomed. 

I started my new job this week, and on the dry erase board, in large letters, spelled out, "Welcome Dr. Ruff."  All of my patients say, "So nice to have you on board!" 

There is a sign in front of our apartment complex that welcomes new tenants, and our names are squeezed in amongst other new renters.

But I think the biggest "welcome" is that of my Heavenly Father, who wraps His loving arms around me at night, when I'm feeling the most alone and vulnerable, missing my church family and familiar faces who KNOW me already, who LOVE me no matter what kind of a day I'm having...He says, "Welcome, my child, my dear child...you are ALWAYS home with me." 

Thank you, Jesus.  :)

Five Minute Friday: Wide

(part of a series at lisajobaker.com)

"Wide Open Spaces" was my theme song as I left my parents' house and left for college in 1997.  I felt so grown up, going out on my own, finally able to "spread my wings."  And it has taken me 15 years to do so, it has been a growing process, gradually letting go of my "child" status and becoming a woman and eventually a wife and a mother.  And now, my family and I are about to head out into the "Wide Open Spaces" again and relocate from Michigan to North Carolina.  I'll probably dig out that CD so I can listen to it as I drive away from what has been our home for the last 4 years.  I am so thankful for adventures, so thankful that God calls His children to new journeys so that we can better serve Him.  So thankful that He knows my heart and what I desire, and that He will give it to me if only I "delight in Him."  5 days until we leave for our new home, and I'm very excited, but there is definitely some mixed emotions as I know that I will be leaving behind people that I love dearly.  But I am SO thankful that God bridges ANY wide open space to make it small when you have two believers who love Him and love each other.  He will reunite us all someday, in the wide open space of heaven.  Looking forward to that move...  Haha.

Sweet!

Jackson has been so sweet to Savannah lately!  When she came down after getting dressed for church, he said, "Savannah, you look so pretty today!"  When he woke up and found she was also in bed with us, he said, "Savannah, I'm so glad to see you!"  When she peed in the potty, he said, "Savannah, good job going pee-pee in the potty!  When I was a baby I got treats for going pee-pee in the potty too!"  It just makes me smile.  I love the two of them.  Dynamics between a brother and sister are so different than what I'm used to, but I absolutely love it.

Five Minute Friday: Graceful

(Part of a series on lisajobaker.com)

Graceful...my parents used to always implore me to be MORE graceful.  I was klutzy growing up, always walking loudly, banging my body into things unintentionally, etc.  I was signed up for ballet with the hopes of developing more grace...but on a memorable early date with my now-husband, I tripped while holding stacks of CDs, so excited to play karaoke with him, and everything went flying...but we laughed and laughed, and the memory still brings laughter today.

Now, when I think of graceful, I don't think of myself and my lack of grace, I think of women that I know and admire who reflect the Grace of God to all they come into contact with.

The new mom who lost her first baby and now holds her healthy second baby in her arms, without an ounce of apparent anxiety or fear, simply radiating joy and love and GRACE.

The mother of ten and wife of one who constantly has a smile for others, constantly shares the promises of GRACE to others, while not hesitating to share her own struggles and need for GRACE.

The mother of two who found herself pregnant with a third when she thought her family was complete...but embraced God's twist in her life with a smile, pushed thru some crazy anxious moments...and today is a testimony of how God's GRACE can change a heart and a mind, no matter how tightly bound in chains they may have been.

Just a few examples of women who are GRACEFUL in my book...and though I still run into walls and talk and walk too loudly, I do hope to continue to receive God's GRACE with an open heart and mind so that I too may help others receive it.

Five Minute Friday: Change

(Part of a series by lisajobaker.com)

What an appropriate title for a post at this stage in my life right now!  We are about to embark on a BIG CHANGE.  I'm about to pack up my family and my duplex and move from Saginaw, MI to Durham, NC.  Our life has come full circle.  When we last lived in Durham, I was a Family Medicine resident at UNC; we had been recently married, were living in our first co-habitated dwelling, and had a 4 month old baby boy.  Now, 4 years later, I am an "experienced" family physician, about to be part of the faculty of UNC and working for my all time favorite UNC-associated clinic; we have been married for 6 years; and our little baby is now 4 and a half years old and has a little 2 year old sister to accompany him.  And we are just so HAPPENING to be moving back into the SAME apartment complex where we started out 4 years ago.  And I breathe a sigh of relief.  The CHANGES that we have gone through during our relatively short marriage I have not always welcomed with grace, and they have been difficult ones.  I am hopeful that THIS change will be different; it is one that we have been waiting for expectantly, with hope for a bettering of ourselves somehow.  We know we can't run away from life and hope it is going to magically be BETTER somewhere else, but we are trusting that since it is our LORD and our GOD who is calling us to return to Durham, He will be able to show us even more of His blessings as we do His work in Chapel Hill and Durham.  CHANGE is hard; we will cry, miss our family, miss our friends; I will miss my colleagues and patients deeply as well; but I am trusting that since this CHANGE is authored by the Maker of the Universe, it will be GOOD.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."--Romans 8:28

Five Minute Friday: Stretch

(Part of a series done on  lisajobaker.com )

When I think of stretching, I think of running--something that you are supposed to do before your workout to get your muscles ready, and afterwards to keep your muscles lithe and flexible and prevent soreness.  It kind of sounds like what prayer should be...something I do before I start my day to prepare me for the "workout" of the day, and something I end my day with, to prevent any pain, bitterness, hard feelings, hurt feelings from lasting into the next day.  I've been praying a lot more lately, but I haven't been running as much as I would like.  It's so hard to find a balance between being physically, spiritually, and emotionally fit.  My whole life I've been committed to my physical fitness, and I still think it's very important, but sometimes I've let my spiritual fitness slack in the meantime.  Maybe this season of my life it's okay to spend more time praying and stretching my spiritual wings more than stretching my running legs; I'm beginning to FINALLY see that everything is a season, and it's really hard to be "okay" with each season along the way, but God has this all ordained in His perfect plan, and He IS faithful in keeping his promises.  Maybe I'll go for a run tomorrow, and I'll be sure to stretch afterwards :)

Potty Time...

Just had to share...
Savannah went potty FOUR times yesterday!  Jackson is the cutest potty coach, it's adorable!!  I splurged and bought her Cinderella Pull-ups for days I feel motivated.  :)  I can't even imagine the day I will no longer have to buy diapers...oh my, extra money for adorable clothes on zulily, ha!

Here...

Here...is where we've lived for 4 years.  Here is where I lost baby #2 and gave birth to beautiful baby #3, Savannah!  Here is where I've figured out how to be the doctor that I want to be, someone who makes a difference, someone who listens, someone who is affected by her patients even more than she affects them, sometimes.  Here is where we found a church home and family that will forever change the way we think about church.  Here is where I've had to learn to be content in any situation...and I haven't quite learned it yet.  Here is where we've gone through ups and downs (a lot of downs) and learned that our marriage is worth fighting for.  Here is where we still are, until we get There, where things won't necessarily be better, but different, and we will have new experiences to go through, new lessons learned, and new chances to learn Contentment.  Here, I will miss you...  But the good thing about life, is that there will always be a Here to live through, to grow through, and to learn from...

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!"--Dr. Seuss.

Savannah Turns Two!!

One week ago, my "baby" turned two!  I was waiting until we had her well baby visit so I could document her stats, so here goes...

Dear Savannah,
You are 2 years old!  You are officially a toddler, not a baby, though I still think of you as my little baby.  :)  You weigh 30 lbs and are 34 inches tall.  You wear 2T-3T, size 5 diapers, and size 7 shoes.  You love playing with your baby dolls, your new play kitchen, and you LOVE to draw and color.  About a week before your birthday, your vocabulary just took off, and now you can say practically anything.  Your favorite color is purple, your favorite book is Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz, your best friend is Gigi, and your favorite song is Jesus Loves Me (you can even sing some of it yourself!)  You love to eat and will eat practically anything, especially anything that mommy and daddy are eating.  You don't really watch TV yet, you lose interest very quickly, and you would much rather be coloring or reading or playing.  You are starting to enter a destructive phase, but we haven't quite begun "time-outs" yet; we may be close.  You LOVE your brother, you still love to nurse, and when anyone meets you they ask, "Is she always this happy?"  YES!!  You must take after your mommy, ha!  I love you so much and I am so proud of the little girl you are becoming.  I am so excited for this next year together, and I am so thankful that God has blessed me with my little Savannah. 
Happy Birthday, Savannah Banana!

Love, Mommy

Enough

Enough already!!
Enough rushing around with always one more thing, one hundred more things, to do.
Enough using other things to calm my stress instead of turning to the One who I need to turn to first.
Enough taking my wonderful husband for granted, for not seeing him how God sees him...wonderful!!
Enough worrying about the future, deadlines--God is in control.
Enough wishing for any other life but the one I have right here and now.

But never enough...
early morning and middle of the night snuggles with my babes
reading books together
words of encouragement found in the Word and in fellow women of faith
taking time to enjoy the little things in life
Mandisa's "Good Morning" song on the radio.

Final month to the Terrible Twos...

So, I think I'm going to stop keeping track of Savannah's words now, because she pretty much will repeat any word that you say, so she'll say anything!  She doesn't initiate a lot of conversation, but I know the potential is there.  :) 

One cute thing she'll do is when I lay her in her crib at night, she'll say, "Jeez" because she wants me to sing Jesus Loves Me again before I leave her.  It's adorable!

On another note, my son is following in my footsteps and he likes Winnie the Pooh!  I just let him watch the new movie the other night, and now he's all about the characters.  He carries ALL of them (that were all mine from college, ha!) around with him, but his favorite is Eeyore.  It's super cute.

Say NO to Strangers...

So Jackson finished his first 2 weeks of swim lessons.  He did not pass to the next level, but I'm really proud of him.  He was so scared of going underwater, and he did it a bunch of times.  We spent 2 hours at the Country Club today with a friend, and without the pressure of "swim class," he was jumping, splashing, and he even went in the BIG POOL with me.  I'm so proud of my little man. 

While we were in the big pool, I asked him if he wanted to ride on my back and I would swim him across.  He said no.  Then a nice older gentleman offered to take him on his back.  He was a little boy's grandfather.  Jackson said, "No, he's a stranger!"  Good job, Jackson!  I'm so thankful that he got SOMETHING out of me reading The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers five thousand times.  :)

Beautiful Baby Mine...

24) Purple
25) Apple
26) Milk
27) Bra (she asked what it was!!)

Jesus loves me...

So Savannah said #23) Bible.
And today, when I was all stressed out about something, Jackson said, "Mommy, just pray."  I did, and He answered, of course, for Jackson to see.  God is so good!  Thank you, Jesus!

Rainbows and Randomness

Savannah loves rainbows!  She can now say "bow" for rainbow.
Yesterday was Daddy's birthday, and we all wore rainbow-colored glasses for the occasion.  She managed "Happy," which was super-cute, but couldn't quite say "birthday."  Maybe next month...
We have a book from the library called "The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question," about "Who is God."  When I asked Jackson the question 2 nights ago, he said "Lord."  Good job!  When I asked him tonight, he said "Love."  Even better! 

21) "Bow" for rainbow
22) Happy

Proverbs 22:6
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

Baby Elijah

It always amazes me the many things that can go wrong in pregnancy and childbirth.  So many times, things are perfectly normal.  But you can never expect what might come your way.  Lately, a bunch of my friends have had so many unfortunate problems, and it has really made me thankful for the two healthy kids that God has blessed me with so far.  But again, I remember that they are mine only for a season, and they can be taken at any time...

Please pray for Baby Elijah McMurray.  My friend became pregnant after IVF, preceded by an unfortunate miscarriage.  Totally normal pregnancy, carried him to term.  At birth, they found he had an enlarged liver and only one functioning kidney.  They had to rush him to a children's hospital 2 hours away for special care, while Mom stayed behind to recover.  Now, the family is together, but Baby Elijah has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer that has the potential to be very bad.  But God is good!!  Please join me in praying for healing; if not for Baby Elijah, then for his family who is heartbroken and trying to wrap their heads around the whole situation. 

We love you Katie, Adam, and Elijah!!  Praying....

And more words!!

Okay, folks, I think we've finally reached the takeoff of little Savannah's vocabulary.
17) Toe
18) Knee
19) Blue
20) Jesus

Keep 'em coming, baby!

More words!

13) Boots (she likes wearing winter and rain boots in all seasons)
14) Block
15) Ball
16) Blank (for blankie)

But the last 3 all kind of sound alike, ha!  Like "Blah."  She's coming along!

#12 Vy (for Violet)

So Savannah can say "Vy," for Violet, the purple puppy dog that sings her songs and says, "Snuggle up, Savannah!"   It's appropriate that they know each other's names.  :)  So cute.

She also hums along with me when I sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "You are My Sunshine" at bedtime, can sing the opening lines of bob the builder, and can sing "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!" kind of.  :)

Bob the Builder

I took the kids today to see Bob the Builder at the Midland Center for the Arts.  I had taken Jackson 2 years ago before Savannah came along, and he was really into it then, but not so much now.  Even so, he did a great job playing with the construction vehicles, and he even gave the fake Bob statue a big hug.  Savannah had a blast--JW says she's a little tomboy.  :)  She can sing the them song, but it sounds like this, "Baaaa-ba-ba-ba"  instead of "Bobbbbb, the Builder..."  Cute!

Also, she can say #11, "Boo Boo" because yesterday she tripped and fell flat on her face, making me worried that her little cute button nose was broken!  I don't think it is, no black eyes, but it's still swollen and bruised, and it looks a little deformed if you ask me.  Here's hoping her little nose is cute again, ha!

Overheard

As we were taking a wagon ride, I gave Jackson the Luigi's Italian Ice, and I asked him to please share it with Savannah.  He did a great job, 2 spoons for himself, 1 spoon for sister, etc. 

Me: "Great job sharing, Jackson!"
Him: "That's what I do now."

Sweet!

Jackson Meets Spider-Man

We had a great time tonight!  Spider Man was at Barnes and Noble, and Jackson and Savannah got to meet him!  There weren't that many kids, so Jackson pretty much had Spidey to himself.  He followed Spider Man around, and they even got to play trains together!  It was great.  Jackson's wearing his Spider Man pj's and Spider Man socks. 

In other news, Savannah said #10 of her words..."beep, beep!"  You can tell she has a big brother, ha!

22 Months--Almost 2 years old!

Savannah is almost 2 years old, I can't believe it!  In some ways, she seems so much like a little baby--still in diapers, nursing, not talking too much...but she's growing and thriving and learning more every day.  Here a few more words she can say...

7.) Bye
8.) Bubbles
9.) Gaga/Papa

She's wearing 24 month/2T clothes, still in size 4 diapers, size 6 shoes.
She loves picking her outfits and shoes in the morning.
She loves playing with Jackson--he wakes her up every morning in her crib, they play in there until I come up, it's adorable listening to them in the monitor.
She is really good at putting puzzles together.
She shares, picks up toys, gives lots of hugs and kisses, and is a great eater!
Still nursing...
Will fold her hands to pray at bedtime, loves when Daddy and I sing to her--I sing "You are My Sunshine," Daddy sings "Jesus Loves Me."
She loves being outside, doing whatever Jackson is doing.
She's a great sleeper!  She goes to bed at 8, wakes up around 7, and naps about 3 hours in the afternoon. 
Her current favorite activity is blowing bubbles.  :)

And now the planning for her second birthday party begins...

Bummer...

I took Jackson to get his hair cut tonight, and when asked if that's what he was there for, he said, "Yeah, it's kind of a bummer."  Ha!  I wonder which of us uttered that phrase, or if it's from the movie, "Cars."  It was so funny.  He looks so grown up with his short spiky hair cut!!

Play on words...

I got to come home for 2 hours this afternoon before a late night at work, and JW and I took the kids outside to play.  We decided to go for a walk, and Jackson found a rusty old washer on the ground.  Jackson wanted to carry it home, until of course, almost home, he dropped and lost the washer.  He was crying and so upset, and he said, "I want that laundry room thing, waaaahhhh!"  Haha, you mean the washer, Jackson, so cute!!