Three Months Old!

Little Miss Lauren is feeling so much better now that she's so much bigger! At 3mos she weighs 9lbs and 12oz! She's not going to be the chubster mr bear was, but she sure is growing! Poor baby girl had a rough start with acid reflux and then thrush. God's grace and good drugs came to our rescue. Our little Lauren Love Bug is now so smiley and has the most adorable dimple on her left cheek. My camera flash creates the very same "Lauren Surprised Face" as it did with Beau. She loves her swing, has to have a blanket tucked across her tummy (but not covering her feet) when she sleeps, she's a big Binky baby, really loves to watch Beau, but doesn't enjoy when he has a moment (wonder what will happen if I do this... moment) smiles at Daddy EVERY TIME he looks or talks to her, thoroughly loves to wear hairbows :), has lots of hair with a big cowlick on the front, her eyes are dark but not exactly brown, they are a mystery. She chews on her dresses and will not tolerate a dirty diaper, she plays with her hair while she's eating and is much better at burping! Her hands and feet are usually sweaty, I wonder if she'll be nervous? She vetos socks just like Beau and Loves to be rocked. Sleeping in Mama's arms is her favorite place to be. Lauren is all girl and getting to know this beautiful face is an excellent adventure.

living in the moment

This morning I was emailing my Mama. She was checking in on us because she understands. I was expressing to her how tired I am because miss lauren isn't sleeping these days. She said, "I worry about you and wish I had a magic potion to pour in your tea to 'make it all better' for you. Come spend the weekend at the Ma's Fluff & Puff... I'll take care of Lauren all night and tuck you in upstairs with the doors shut so you can sleep all night... xo"
My reply?
Your magic potion (and Jenny’s and Daddy's and Grandma Judy's) is simply understanding what I live because you have lived this. I appreciate and need the encouragement. I read a blog about “living in the moment” with your children. A mom was trying to bathe 2 toddlers while the newborn was screaming all by herself in a tiny hot bathroom. The oldest toddler just wanted to be rocked and sang too after his bath. She didn’t have the energy or desire to do so, however as all three kids are crying she looked up and thought about this toddler being all grown up, a young man home from college, smelling of nice cologne, kisses her cheek hello and then back out the door he goes – and how at that point she will wish he was once again little enough to rock and sing, but she will never have that moment back. The moment when all he wants is to do rock and sing in the chaos of that hot bathroom. So, she cried and held him in her arms and rocked him and sang to him as long as he would let her while the other toddler stayed in the bathtub and the newborn cried. This story crashed on me just as I’m sure these thoughts have no-doubtably hit you and Daddy. I blogged about being overwhelmed because it is true. But I’m gonna hang on to this thought of Beau being 5’6”, strong stalky and handsome walking down the hallway and out the door during the moments when he’s whining incessantly and I just can’t seem to fix his toddler world. I will hang on to this thought of being in the moment because Lauren will try on gorgeous wedding gowns soon enough. I can hold her, I can hold her every moment. If I was put here on this earth to hold her every night for the first year of her life, I will. You and Daddy did for me. Good lands I appreciate and adore my parents.

Big Red Tractor

He just can't stop talking about this...

Two Years Old

At two years old my mr bear is 29lbs. and 33.5in. tall. He has graduated to the 50th percentile! There's a saying if you double their height on the 2nd birthday, it will be close to their adult height, well folks that would be approximately 5ft 6in tall. Surprise!!! I love it. He is solid when you pick him up and is usually the one standing when he runs into another kiddo. Beau can climb anything. chairs, barstools, coffee tables, LAUREN'S CRIB, in our bed, onto the tractor, up and down stairs. This boy climbs. He has a really good sense of balance too. He runs, hardly walks and prefers to gallop. He can open any door, even the childproof latches. Nice. He plays pretend all the time and the favorite game is to be a tiger. "Grrar! I'm scary Mommy." The vocabulary is endless, it's fun to play, "hey Beau, can you say..." Some of the hardest words come out clear and the easy peasy words sound hilarious. He constantly talks about the world around him, often repeating over and over what he sees or is interested in. Because of this new awareness he has become more emotional and sometimes frustrated with us and himself when the goal isn't quite reached. I tell him, "you can be frustrated, you can be mad, you cannot be a brat!" He sees a little more of the corner these days, but it's for his own good. and our sanity.

Other favorites: Cooking dinner, mowing on the tractor, water, holding It (Lauren), play with a ball, EATING, blankies, rocking with mommy/daddy with a book, trains, trucks, visiting with all his grandparents (they all think he's pretty cool). Some things we struggle with: saying "NO", pushing other kids down (ugh), whining, strong willed with the climbing thing, still working on the potty thing. Beau is a hoot and half. He is constantly making us laugh, he is the sparkle in my day and the smile on my face. Woo HOo for TWO. Lord help us.

Overwhelmed.

I am battling being overwhelmed. Sometimes overwhelmed with the blessings I have. Sometimes overwhelmed that they depend on me and Mike. For everything. Overwhelmed that they don’t eat unless I feed them. Their diaper will stay dirty. Their fingernails won’t be trimmed. And they won’t be rocked to sweet dreams without us. I feel it. I feel it on me like a weight. Actually like the 15lbs that will not come off my body. Please understand I have a tremendous help mate in my husband but it is overwhelming. And then I hold them in my arms and I am overwhelmed at the love I have in my heart and soul for them. Mike Beau Lauren. And I hang on. I was thinking about the Proverb that talks about being worth more than Rubies. I looked it up. Read it.

Proverbs 31:10-31
{ A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. }

Got discouraged. Reality Check. I don’t believe I’m meeting these characteristics at all right now. I’m certainly not buying real estate, planting a vineyard, or making textiles to fund my investments. Hairbows don’t count. My arms are flabby and I’m not clothed in fine linen because none of my clothes fit. There are times I could harm people. I eat a lot of bread, but I don’t think I’m too idle. I do fear the Lord. And because I do, I know I will feel better. I carry this passage with me and I read it. A lot. I am trying to see the things I am rather than what I am not. Someday I WILL check off more things on this “a wife of noble character” list. Oh, and I’m going to buy some gloriously gaudy fake ruby earrings to wear on days I need to remind myself I am worth far more than rubies.

I’m posting this because I believe many women need to be reminded that YOU ARE WORTH FAR MORE THAN RUBIES. God says so.

summer time... makes me feel fine!