the first day of school- first grade

As impossible as it is to believe, John Mark started first grade on Friday.  He's at a new school this year, but in typical John Mark fashion- he wasn't phased by it.  To quote my friend Jamie- "that kid could make friends with a tree stump."

Thursday night, we said prayers for the first day of school, discussed making good choices (aka, STOP TALKING ha!) and turned out the lights extra early.  Friday morning he bounced right out of bed, excited to meet his new friends.  After a yummy breakfast, we were off to the new school.

We  walked into his classroom, dropped off his supplies and found his desk.  I talked with his teacher while he walked around and checked out his new classroom.

At this point in the morning, he was ready for me to go.  He wanted to go play with his new friends and do it on his own.  We gave him one last hug and walked out the door.  I stood in the hallway and watched him play for a few minutes.  He was putting together a puzzle and talking nonstop to the kid next to him. 

Lucy moped around the house for most of the day.  I think she was sad to have her bubba gone after a fun summer of playing with her all day.  She was very excited when we picked him up. 

His first day of school report- "Great!"  His favorite part- "everything!"  I'll take that as a successful first day of first grade.

John Mark- 6 years

*I wrote this on his actual birthday, but am just getting around to uploading pictures/blogging it...*

Dear John Mark-

Today you are six years old.  Words cannot begin to sum up just how much I love you... how much joy and life you breathe into my heart everyday.  It seems like yesterday you were a little bundle, wrapped up in my arms for the very first time.  And now here you stand, a running, swimming, reading big BOY.

When I was pregnant with you, I remember praying many things for you... asking God to make you healthy and strong... praying for Him to draw you to Himself.  One specific prayer I remember praying that I see played out in your life everyday was a prayer for kindness. 

Once we saw just how BIG of a guy you were destined to be, my heart always cried out for you to be kind and gentle.  OH how the Lord has answered that prayer.  Your heart is so tender and you genuinely love the people in your life so purely it takes my breath away.  Whether you're leading your younger cousins around, helping a random toddler up the slide at Chick Fil-A or chasing one of the teenagers you love so dearly, your heart is ENORMOUS.  Now, I'm not saying you are perfect.  We have our fair share of battles on any given day.  But I am so very proud of the gentle, loving heart that the Lord has given to you. 

I love that you are so easy-going and laid back.  You weathered a huge battering of change and hurts over the past two years, and somehow you came out just fine.  I pray that the truths you heard from us, the actions from those around you, will continue to draw you to a relationship with the Lord.  That is my prayer everyday.

You love your little sister more than I could ever put into words.  In fact, the thing you get in trouble for most frequently is picking her up, hugging her, kissing her, standing her up... basically smothering her with your love.  You told us the other night that you will always protect her and keep her safe.  You love to read her books and hold her in your lap- both of which are more difficult now that she's on the move.

In the past year you learned to read like a little champ.  Seriously, something totally clicked and you took off with reading faster than I ever expected.  You flew through the summer reading challenge at the library this summer, then read 20 books to earn the Star Wars Operation game you had been begging for.  Your daddy and I both love reading, so I hope that we are able to pass along a love for books to you.

You're into Star Wars (you've actually seen the movies/played the xbox game now), Legos, Super Heros, Mario, swimming, and PBSKids.org (that's what you call it whenever you ask to play...).  You love to eat snacks, but eat so many that you fill up before supper.  Your favorites are yogurt, applesauce, wheat thins, cheetos and string cheese.  The one supper you ask for over and over is Cheesy Broccoli Chicken.  I think you would eat that everyday.

You are still a giant- wearing a size 8 slim in jeans, 6-7 in shirts and size 3 shoe.  Last time I weighed you, you were 56 pounds.  I know you've shot up over the past few weeks, so I don't know how tall you are.

I love you more than words, and am so thankful everyday that God picked me to be your mommy.  I hope you never, ever forget how much you are loved- by me, your daddy, Lulu and the rest of our family and friends.  You're a light and a blessing to everyone around you.  Happy birthday, buddy bear.

Love you forever-
Mommy

never once

standing on this mountaintop
looking just how far we've come
knowing that for every step
You were with us

Today, as I stand on this "mountaintop" of our 8th anniversary, it's hard to recognize those tiny people in the distance.  You know the ones- those two kids who were busy falling in love and saying "I do."  We have come so very far from the people that we were.  I can't look back on the 8 years without seeing the faithfulness of our God.

kneeling on this battleground
seeing just how much You've done
knowing every victory
was Your power in us

8 years ago, I had no idea just how much of a battleground a marriage is.  And I don't mean a battleground between us (that's not to say we haven't had our battles... we've had more than our fair share of those!) but a spiritual battle.  We have fought harder for our marriage than I ever knew to expect.  Today, I kneel on this sacred battleground with a gratefulness for the victory He has given to us.  I promise to continue to fight, trusting His power to afford us more victory than defeat.

scars and struggles on the way
but with joy our hearts can say...

I know our story is far from written, the ending is far from sight.  And someday, 10, 20, 50 years from now I will look back on this time in our life from a different mountaintop.  I will smile, my heart full of joy, because one thing will remain true, one thing will be the same- the faithfulness of our God.  Apart from Him, we can do nothing.... apart from Him, our marriage has no hope for survival.  By His grace, we will not be consumed or overcome... His mercies are new every morning... Great is HIS faithfulness.

never once, 
did we ever walk alone
never once,
did You leave us on our own
You are faithful,
God, You are faithful
--never once, matt redman

3 miles

Last spring, before I found out I was pregnant with Lucy, I was training for a full marathon.  I ran 18 miles in the snow.  I did speedwork and tempo runs like they were nothing.  I was in the best shape of my life.

Last night I laid out my gear and set my alarm, my stomach in knots over what I was planning to do.  I was so nervous to run 3 miles when I haven't ran in months... Nervous to commit to training and juggle running with a baby... Nervous to get out of bed voluntarily at that time of day.

And today, at 5:30 in the morning, I ran 3 miles.  Yes, it was20 seconds slower than the last, 12 mile run saved in my Garmin.  Yes, I took a walking break...  I hurt in places I had forgotten existed.  But I was as proud getting in my car today as the day I ran 20 miles. 

This is the thing I love about running.  My trusty brooks running shoes met me exactly where I was, regardless of how long they sat unused in my closet.  My running buddies encouraged and pushed me every step of the way.  I felt like I was in the place I belonged, like part of my heart started to beat again.

long, hot summer

I love summer.  I think it's my favorite season.
Time seems to slow down.
The days are long and the nights are cool.

I love the sights. 
Tiny tan lines.  Green gardens.
Starry skies.
New books.  Old favorites.
Farmers markets, stacked with produce.
Bright blue pools.

I love the smells.
Freshly cut grass.  Rain.
Sunscreen.  Chlorine.
Charcoal grills.
Coconut snow cones.

I love the sounds.
Sprinklers.  Lawn mowers.
Splashing.  Laughing.
Burgers sizzling.

I love the food.
Garden tomatoes.  Grilled corn.
Watermelon.  Strawberries.
Squash and cucumbers.
Burgers and hot dogs.

What's your favorite season?

Lucy Kate- month 8

*once again, I've been a total blog slacker.  I promise I have interesting things to say, other than Lucy's monthly updates... maybe they'll actually get published sometime soon. *

Lucy Lu-

 

WOW!  What a difference a month makes.  I feel like you're a totally different baby than you were last month.  I mean, are you even a baby anymore?  It's like you've hopped on the fast track to being a big girl overnight!

This month you have learned to do so many things physically!  You started the month by scooting all around the living room, then you figured out how to push yourself back to sitting from your tummy.  It wasn't long after that you were up on all fours and about a week ago moved to full time crawling.  It's so cute to watch you zero in on something across the room for it and make a mad dash for it.  Along with crawling, you've started to pull up.  You have only made it to your feet once or twice, but you sit on your knees holding onto all sorts of things.  This means we lowered your crib this month too, after I found you bouncing on your knees one day.

Another thing you are just starting to pick up on is waving and clapping.  You don't have these down by any means, but every now and then we'll say "HI LUCY!" while waving dramatically, and you'll move your hand.  Not much makes you happier than when we say "YAY LUCY!" and clap our hands.  You get such a big smile on your face and sometimes bring your hands together.  It's so much fun to watch you learn these things.

 

You've also started to really be interested in your toys.  Now that you can crawl, you make a beeline for the toy basket and pull everything out.  Your favorites are stacking cups and the plastic rings.  You also really like to chew on linking rings and sling those around to make noise.  I still can't believe you are actually playing with toys.  Again, it's such a big girl thing

You have also moved past pureed baby food and almost exclusively feed yourself at meals.  Almost the only thing you let me feed you is yogurt at breakfast- and even this is filled with you struggling to grab the spoon and feed yourself the whole time!  Your absolute favorite food is watermelon.  I'm pretty sure you would sit in your highchair and feed yourself watermelon all day long if I left you.  You are also a fan of blueberries, strawberries, turkey hot dogs, and peas.  Actually, I can't think of anything I have given to you that you didn't just go to town eating.  You're still nursing 4 or 5 times a day, usually for about 10 minutes total.

Nothing has really changed in the clothing or diaper sizes.  That's probably good because you have lots of cute summer clothes you are getting lots of good out of.  I weighed you last night on my scale and you looked to be at 17 pounds, 5 ounces.  You're doctor appointment is in a week, so I won't have any official measurements until then.

I love you, baby girl!  I can't wait to see what this next month brings.

Forever-

Mommy

Lucy Kate- month 7

*I have 3 posts all waiting in drafts that I never finished to publish from the past month... I need to get back on the blogging bandwagon...*

Dear Lulu-

Wow!  Seven months that you've been a part of our sweet family... that number doesn't seem possible.  On the one hand, it feels like just yesterday you were a teeny baby that cried all day and on the other hand, I barely remember life without you in it.

The past month was chock full of firsts.On June 7th, Daddy texted me that you finally had a tooth that had broken through.  A couple days later, the second bottom tooth popped right on through.  Let me just tell you, those things are sharp!  You've got both of us on the fingers a couple of times and it hurts!  You also got to meet several new family members at a family reunion we had in Central High at the beginning of the month.  You survived moving houses (mommy almost didn't, but you were quite the trooper!) and you moved into your new bedroom with no problems.  Our friends from Houston visited for a week, so you and Crosby got to go on lots of baby dates. :)

You are such a good sleeper.  On an ideal night, you go to bed around 7:30-8:00.  The past month has seen quite a few less than ideal nights and you've been so good to just go with the flow.  Being out of town and out at Thunder game watch parties hasn't phased you too much.  Regardless of when you go to bed, you wake up between 6:00-7:00.  Recently you've begun to take two really long naps- around 2 hours- one in the morning around 9 and another one in the late afternoon around 3.  There's usually a 45 minute cap nap in between there, because that's our usual errand running time.

Eating is one of your new favorite things to do.  I've fed you almost every baby food out there, and so far you like it all.  I've also started to give you small pieces of food and let you start working on that pincer grasp.  Your favorite foods (pureed) to be fed are: bananas, sweet potatoes and mac & cheese.  The food you love to feed yourself: blueberries (quartered), cheerios, puffs, mac & cheese and baby mum-mum crackers.  My plan is to let you keep working at feeding yourself and hopefully phase out the purees eventually.

You sit by yourself now and are working so hard to crawl.  If I lay you down, you immediately flop over to your tummy and start scooting.  I've even caught you up on all fours a couple of times.  The best is when I put a toy just out of your reach and you stretch and scoot until you reach it.  I'm not ready for a crawler!  Your favorite toys are the stacking rings, a mirror and linking rings.  Another "physical" milestone you're loving is slinging your arms up and down as hard as you can.  You love to bang things- especially your sippy cup on the high chair tray.

You're wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 9 month or 6-12 month size clothes.  At the doctor last week you weighed in at 16 pounds, 6 ounces.  You've got the best chubby little thighs and tummy!

You love: big brother, playing peek-a-boo, growling, saying "babababa" and blowing raspberries, eating, naps, having your neck tickled, being outside.  You dislike: mommy leaving the room, bath time, waiting for things, diaper changes, clothing changes, and peas.

This has been a long monthly rundown, but I feel like you are growing and changing so much these days.  I don't want to forget any of this.  I love you, my sweet baby goose.

Forever,
Mommy

Lucy Kate- month 6

Dear Lucy-

What in the world?  How is it possible you are SIX months old?  That's half a year!  I can't believe that you have been in our lives for so long, and at the same time I can't believe you weren't always here.

You are such a happy girl.  I've joked to a few people that if someone had told me in your first 8 weeks of life that you were going to be such a happy, relaxed baby, I would never have believed them!  Ha!  You really only get grumpy when you're hungry or sleepy.  But when you are grumpy... oh my!  You've still got powerful lungs and QUITE the angry cry.  Sometimes it makes me laugh to see just how worked up you can be.

You are so close to sitting up and are still all over the place rolling if I leave you on the floor.  You still love your thumb, although you have now discovered your right thumb too.  We like to say that your right thumb is your party thumb- you only suck it when you're playing and happy.  Left thumb is serious, bedtime stuff. 

You are sleeping from 7:30-7:00 most nights.  You take 3 or 4 naps a day, depending on your level of grumpiness.  You're preferred way to fall asleep is to be laid down in your bed so you can sing yourself to sleep, although you do let me rock you after you finish nursing at night.

After a couple months of not really caring too much about eating cereal or anything else (besides fingers, cups, etc.) you have finally started to gobble up your food.  You love oatmeal, sweet potato and pears.  I'm trying to ease you into new foods slowly, because your tummy is still a little sensitive.  You still nurse 5 or 6 times a day, but you're fast!  You still take your Zantac, but we are finally turning a corner on your spitting up.  Of course, I write that and today you'll puke everywhere all day!

Your newest trick is when we say "where's bubba?" you look around the room until you make eye contact with him and get the biggest grin on your face.  To say you love your brother is an understatement.  And he feels the same way about you.  This summer is going to be so fun with the two of you!  You also have started to recognize your name.  I love to say "Lucy!" and watch you turn around to smile at me.

You've got a ton of nicknames, but these are the ones that are used on a daily basis- Lu, Lulu, Goosey, baby goose, baby sista, Luc...  Your doctor's appointment is next week, so I won't know your exact stats until then.  I weighed you on our scale the other day and you seem to be hovering around 16 pounds.  You're outgrowing all your 3-6 month, 6 month clothes, so I'm excited to get out all your cute summer clothes we bought last year.

You are my girl, my sunshine and a big ol' piece of my heart.  I love you more than words.

Mommy

Isn't it funny...

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different..." C.S. Lewis

Life is funny.   I find myself so easily consumed with the seemingly mundane aspects of our day.  Laundry...  Dishes... Feed the baby... Change diapers...  Laundry... Breakfast... Naps... Laundry...  Lunch... Change diapers... School drop off and pick up... Clean toilets... Supper... Laundry... Days go by in a blur of routine and (sometimes) overwhelming monotony. 

Then one day, you look back and realize- how did we get here?  Nothing is the way it used to be.  The baby is sleeping through the night... the big boy is getting ready to start 1st grade... I'm not 24 years old anymore, I'm almost 31 with two kids and a mini-van.  Our lives have moved forward in such constant motion that the beauty of the day-to-day has been lost.

I'm not even sure where I'm going with these thoughts.  I just want to know that I'm living the days of my life with purpose.  I don't want to get so overwhelmed with making moments count that I miss the little things.  When I look back on my days, I want to know that I made the best of the days I've been given.

"I was made...
To build my life on the things unseen.
Out from the ordinary.
Into extraordinary."
-Into the Glorious, Christy Nockels

A Ministry Crisis, of sorts

When we moved to a new church a year ago, I was pregnant and in the middle of one of the biggest years of change in my entire life.  The thought of finding a place to serve, a new ministry to love, seemed impossible.

As life has settled down, and I'm feeling a little more like myself, I have found myself wondering what to do.  How can I use the talents and gifts that I have to help this church?  Where is my best fit to serve?  These questions and hundreds like them have been rolling around in my mind and heart for a while now.  I've found this to be the subject of many prayers and sleepless nights.

It's amazing how the Lord brings the right things, at just the right time to steady my heart.  First of all, I went to breakfast with a dear friend who was so encouraging.  She reminded me that my biggest ministry right now is within my home, the two lives I influence daily.  Hearing that was such an encouragement, a beautiful reminder that the Lord has entrusted me with two little lives to teach about Him.  She also encouraged me to continue seeking His face, and praying for opportunities.  The opportunities will present themselves as I am being faithful to seek Him.

The next thing that rocked my world was a podcast I listened to by Christine Caine.  In it, she was discussing ambition in the Christian ministry world.  It was so good, I listened to it through twice, the second time with a notebook beside me so I could write down some of the things she said. One thing she said struck a deep chord in my heart- "God is more interested in what is being developed IN you than what He can do THROUGH you." 

1 Peter 3:15 says "...you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."  And so my new "plan" is to stop having a plan and to stop stressing that I'm not doing enough.  I'm going to focus on my relationship with the Father and teaching His truth to my own kiddos.  By refocusing my heart on Christ, my prayer is that I will be so filled with him it becomes a natural outpouring to those around me.

Lucy Kate- month 5

*has it really been a whole month since I posted?  I've had a hundred thoughts for posts in my head but never got around to posting them... maybe I'll make those happen.  They're good thoughts. :)

Dear Lucy Lou-

How has another year passed?  It seems like just yesterday you were my tiny little love, who just cried, pooped, and slept.  And now you're a great big 5 month old!

You've been up to so much in this past month.  Right after posting your 4 month post, you mastered rolling from your back to your tummy.  About a week later, you flipped from your tummy to your back.  And now?  Well, you're just a little roly-poly! If I set you down on the blanket in the floor, it doesn't take you long to be bumped up into something, mad you can't go further. 

I'm pretty sure you are teething, considering the ridiculous amount of drool and the chewing.  Your hair is starting to really grow, and even the bald spot in the back is beginning to grow some whiskers.  You've been eating cereal (and making huge messes in the process).  You've also started to talk all the time, and you have the most hilarious growl.  Daddy taught you to blow raspberries too!

You LOVE: thumbkin, toys, chewing on EVERYTHING you can get your hands on, John Mark (he has started cracking you up all the time and I love it), the exersaucer, rolling and laughing.

You don't so much love: 6:30-7:30 PM, being alone (unless you're sleeping), startling noises and getting teeth.

This might be my favorite month so far.  You are getting more fun everyday.

Love-
Mommy

Lucy Kate- month 4

Dear Lucy-

You are 4 months old today (or, a week ago...) and you are becoming so much fun!  You're starting to get a sweet little personality and those smiles are coming more frequently. 

 You LOVE to be standing or sitting up.  If I leave you on your back too long, you start to get really upset.  But the second I pull you to standing, it's all smiles!  You have also started to pick up toys when they're in front of you.  Everything goes straight to your mouth, which is full of drool these days.  Sometimes I wonder if you're teething already!

You haven't made it all the way over yet, but you're trying to hard to roll over.  You hang out on your side and get so upset! You also have a new best friend- your thumb.  Forget the pacifier... it's all thumb, all the time!  I'm sure that I will regret letting you suck your thumb later in life, but for right now, it's probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

You go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 most nights, and wake up around 3 or 4 to eat.  After that you go back to sleep for another few hours.  You eat every 3 hours (2.5 if you're growing!) for about 15 minutes.  The medicine seems to be helping you eat, and the spitting up is slowly getting better.  We're hoping that starting cereal will help you sleep longer and keep some of that food down!

You wear a size 2 diaper and mostly 3-6 month clothes.  The weather has been so nice lately and it's been fun to get out some of your cute summery outfits.  Of course, you look precious in absolutely everything.  Oh, and your hair is finally starting to come in more on top!

We went to the doctor last week and here are your latest stats:
-Weight: 14 lbs, 13 oz- 75%
-Length: 26 inches- 96%
Looks like we've got another tall, skinny kiddo on our hands!

You are my precious sunshine, the happy spot in my day. 

I love you forever-
Mommy