Top 13 things Christian is saying/doing right now... (REVISED...MOMMY FORGOT SOME IMPORTANT THINGS...

13. dewicious (delicious) when something is yummy

12. I kiss it (when someone has an owie)

11. Tank you much (thank you very much)

10. Lining his animals up and kissing them before we leave to go somewhere and telling them we'll be right back

9. When asked what he wants to eat for any meal he confidently responds, 'cookies'

8. I hep you (when someone's having trouble with something)

7. Catching bugs and then talking to them

6. tooting and laughing and tooting and laughing and tooting and laughing....all the time!

5. Sleeping under 6 to 8 blankets at nap time and through the night

4. Wanting to get all 'snuggwy' with Mommy under a blanket every time he watches TV!!

3. Stomping around the house with his hands up making a "rawrr" sound

2. Saying his name all the time 'Titan' (short i sound)

1. Praying..."Dea Lawd, Tank you day, food...Amen!" Too precious!!!!!!!!!

Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul

Hey All! Our computer is still in the shop so no new pictures yet...sorry!

I do however have a great book to recommend for all Mommies. Last week I went to the bookstore in search of a book written by a Christian Mommy about motherhood and I found an incredible one, just what I needed! It is called 'Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul', written by Angela Thomas. It's all about the need to nurture your soul as a mother, something we often neglect because of the business of motherhood.

I started reading this book over the weekend while Kelly and I spent the night at a wonderful hotel in Branson, Chateau on the Lake. We had such a relaxing time together and really, when do busy mothers ever have time to almost finish a book in two days?! (I have Kelly's mom to thank for keeping Christian so we could go on our little get-away). We laid by the pool, we ate really good food and we slept in! It was awesome!

Getting back to the book...here's one of my favorite quotes,

"Soul care is about replacing what has been given out. This is not aromatherapy or deep-breathing exercises. This is not a facial or an exfoliating body wrap. Although that all sounds wonderful, my body will be pampered but my soul will be left empty. This is about getting in the supernatural presence of God-The place of miracles, the place of filling."

I seriously hope you guys get this book. It will minister and renew all you tired mommies like it did me :) It will also challenge you to stay fresh in your pursuit of God first, and then be Mommy second. I liked it so much, I think I'll read it again!

A Wildflower Garden

You know, it's funny how as you get older you discover things about yourself, that were there all the time, and then suddenly you realize who you are makes a little more sense...to yourself. Confused yet??? HA!
Anyway this past week as Christian was napping I was outside on the deck praying and completely enjoying the day. We have a bird house that has baby birds and I've so enjoyed watching the diligent mother bring her babies food. We have another bird's nest that was left from last year and another mommy bird is working so hard to get the nest "fluffed up" for her soon-to-be babies. She's constantly bringing mouthfuls of twigs and leaves to add to the pre-existing nest. Kelly joked and said, "yea, while the Daddy bird is out working hard all day the mommy bird is spending all the money to redecorate the bedroom"...(something I recently did ~smile~).
Anyway, back to my story... I was enjoying the sunshine and flowers and nature and started thinking of how I wanted my life to be like a wildflower garden. Of all the beautiful, well-thought out, lavish gardens I could choose my life to be like, I wanted wildflowers. There's something about a wildflower garden that makes me feel free. No expectations, just beauty springing up amidst the grass and weeds. Then I started thinking about how my life was already like a wildflower garden. I began to think of all the plans I'd made in the past and how God strategically and miraculously changed my plans to his plans and how marvelous his plans for me had been. This made me think of the unpredictability of wildflower gardens. I began to think about the hard lessons I've learned and have still yet to learn and compared those lessons to the grass and weeds in my garden growing alongside the beauty. I also thought thankfully about the joys I have everyday over the simple things in life and compared those to the simplicity of the wildflowers.
Some do all they can to become gardens in the most noble of places, planning each season to look and be the brightest, the hardiest, and to be recognized for their outstanding beauty and expense.
But I'm going to stop trying so hard. I want the freedom of not being and looking perfect all the time, I want the unpredictability in life because God's in control, I want to enjoy the simple rather than having to be more and more awed over the things of this world. Give me the middle of a country field where the Master Gardener and Christ Jesus can adorn me with grace and distinction for them alone. Give me a heart that seeks to be authentically beautiful!

Delay in postings...

Sorry Guys, our computer's in the shop so I haven't been able to post pictures lately. When we get it back I have pictures of my vegetable plants (I actually have a baby squash) my flower boxes, and Christian doing some construction work outside with Daddy. I can't wait to post them! Thanks for checking in :)

Happy Mother's Day to Me...

It's true that you never truly appreciate your mother and all she sacrificed for you until you have a child of your own. I'm sure I'll find this to be even more true as Christian grows. There really is no job like being a mom and I'm so very thankful to get to experience Motherhood! Happy Mother's Day Mom! Although I didn't get to be with my mom, she was in my thoughts all day long. And...Happy Mother's Day to me and all you Mommies out there!

sweet moments

Yesterday was library storytime for Christian. This is at a small library by our house and it is once a week for kids two and under. They not only read stories, but they usually have music, toys, bubbles (Christian's favorite) and sometimes a craft. We don't always make it, but we did yesterday and I'm glad we did! I had one of those 'Mother Moments' where time stands still and you can't take the moment in fast enough.
The theme yesterday was shapes. Miss Erin, the storytime leader, read books about shapes, we sang songs about shapes, we drew shapes, and we made shapes with our hands. Christian sat on my lap in the circle with other mommies and babies and was fully engaged. He connected his tiny thumbs to make the base of the triangle and his two index fingers to make the point. He made a circle with his hands and on his paper, and he tried very hard to sing the songs she was teaching. I have never been more thankful to get to be a stay at home mom and get to do things like this with him. It seems lately I've been doing a lot of complaining on the homefront about not keeping up with the housework and barely keeping up with my rambunctious two year old. I guess it has seemed pretty hectic. But that all stopped yesterday in storytime. The laundry wasn't calling my name, Christian wasn't running from me, or pulling off all the toilet paper from the roll, or hammering the door in with his toy hammer.... :) No, it was me and my baby boy cuddled up, listening, laughing and learning about shapes. I'll never forget watching him and being so proud. It was a sweet moment.

Cute things Christian's saying:
"I be comin"

"wa,wa, wike it" I don't like it

(He's sure saying "mine" an awful lot, but that really isn't all that cute... :)

Everything's Daddy's..."Daddy's couch, Daddy's remote, Daddy's car, Daddy's bed..." and no, kelly seriously isn't lazy even though I mentioned the couch, remote and bed in the previous example :)

He LOVES bossing Sophie every chance he gets and also chasing her around the house to put stickers on her or a bag on her head (poor little Soph).

"I be strong" He is strong and fully desires to be strong. He tries to push down trees, move cars, push and wrestle mommy and tonight he tried to pull daddy's ear off. He says "I be strong" in a powerful tone of voice and the truth is he is VERY strong!!!!! Last night we were outside on the deck and Kelly pointed out that there was a wasp crawling pretty much under my foot and I screamed and put my feet in my chair. Kelly came over to step on the wasp, and at the same time Christian said, "I be comin, Ma" ( he calls me either Ma, or Mommy in an English accent). And he was coming, as fast as he could he was making his way to the wasp. Thankfully Daddy got to the wasp first. I realized at that moment that I had not one, but two knights-in-shining-armor to come to my rescue. It was a good feeling. I could see that I was raising a strong, heroic boy that would someday be a strong, heroic man. I smiled and so did Kelly.

Wow! I've really gone on enough! Better get to bed.

While Kelly was out of town last week I managed to plant some flowers, and a few vegetables. I've never tried vegetables before, and always wanted to, so hopefully I'll be posting some really great pictures of squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers!!!

I also remodeled our bedroom while Kelly was away. I bought all new white bedding, painted a wall, and purchased a new vintage chandelier (My third one...I'm addicted to these things!!!!!). I was really nervous because I decided at the last minute to go pink with my paint choice...but I actually like it and Kelly wasn't too mad either :)

Christian playing outside in his sandbox and in his homemade tent

Kelly and I are having so much fun with Christian outside now that it's warm!! He's such a cutie and we love to watch him play!!!!!!!