Friday, March 22, 2013

Baby Makes Four

It has been six days since we welcomed our newest addition into the world!

Introducing...


 She made her arrival at 4:17am on Saturday March 16th. Weighing in at 7 pounds and 13 ounces and 21 3/4 inches tall, she's beautifully perfect and we are all smitten with our little Love already!

Here are a couple shots from our first week at home together. Birth story to follow when I can get some more sleep! For now, we're just laying low and enjoying our first several days together :)













Tuesday, March 5, 2013

One Year Ago

One year ago today, you were learning to walk. You were still a little squishy. They were calling for snow (just like they are today). One year ago, you were still my baby. You could only say "mama," and it melted my heart each time.


One year later, a new baby is on the way. You will still be my baby, just in a different way. Oh, darling, how you make my heart sing with joy each time I hear your small voice sing me a song or talk to your Daddy. One year later, you are not just walking, but RUNNING from place to place as you discover. How much you learn in one day will always amaze me.

One year ago, I never imagined how much my life could have changed. Wife - still, yes - will I always be to my beloved Bobby. Mama - still, yes - to my darling boy Camden. Almost Mama to TWO children. The Lord has blessed me greatly with so many people to love. How could my heart possibly  grow to fit another?

One year ago, I never anticipated waiting. Waiting for this new life to come. How much I love that both my babies will be born in the Spring - reminder of the new life we have in Lord Jesus! While uncomfortable, tired and impatient in this season of my life, I will wait on the Lord.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord.
More than those who wait for the morning -
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is mercy,
and with Him there is abundant redemption.

Psalm 130: 1-7 NKJV

There is beauty, hope and strength in His praises. I shall dwell on those good things until our new, sweet darling arrives.






Friday, March 1, 2013

21 Months



Dear Baby,

My first-born, my darling boy. Your tiny voice fills my heart with joy and your little hands are always so busy. At just 21 months old, you amaze Daddy and me every day with something new.

When we go to the store, you greet each child with a cheerful "Haaayyy!" That is, right before you grab them for a thoughtful (although very aggressive) hug.

While we settle down for your naps and sing songs, you have Henry do the hand motions you've learned in Bible Study.

Bright and early each morning, you lean over your baby gate and whisper (sometimes not-so-quietly!) down the hall to me, "Maaaamaaaa!" followed up with "miiiillllkkkk!"

You can navigate the iPad better than me and Daddy combined. By yourself, you can also dial Grandpa on Skype, film videos of yourself, and choose which cartoon you'd like to watch on Netflix.

Right now, you can only count to the number 9 because that's how many innings are in a baseball game (your favorite book is the one about the Orioles, which teaches you about baseball).

You love to sing. And dance. And you dance like your Daddy. I hope you always love music and have it in your soul to sing to the Lord every chance you get.

You like to pray to Jesus at least twice every night before bed. Mama pray first, and you like to pray second, even if you just say "Dear Jesus." It makes me cry every time.

You could jump, do forward rolls and play "Ring Around the Rosie" all day long if we didn't have other things to accomplish, like building towers and knocking them down!

Every item in our house and all the places we go present you with a new climbing opportunity. The steps, your high chair, sister's crib, Daddy's ladder, the bumper of Daddy's Jeep, the railing at the swimming pool, etc.

Sometimes you fall asleep in your tent while reading a book. I'm ok with that, and love that you love to read now.

You love, LOVE to be "way-kid" (naked)! Every chance you get, you ask to be naked. After breakfast, before naps, in the middle of reading a book, on the way home from Nana's. You love to be naked so much so that you've figured out how to get out of your clothes by yourself. Some days after naps, I will find you reading a book in your tent completely "way-kid." Diaper and all.

It warms my heart to watch you grow, yet kills me at the same time. With your new, baby sister on the way soon, I have so cherished these times that we get to spend together, just Mama and Camden. I'm so blessed to spend every day, all day with you. And while you test all of my patience some days, you are still my boy, and you still give me the best hugs and kisses. There is nothing better than your sweet smile and your big, brown eyes looking up at me.

Be still my heart. And stop growing so fast.

XO

Mama