My Precious Little Hooligans!

Having a 1 and a 2 year old in the house can make for some very interesting times.  One evening after an extremely LONG parenting day my husband said, "I LOVE my kids, but I just don't like them right now!" --LOL-- Ever known that feeling?!

My one year old, Madison, is now crawling and standing wherever she can pull herself up.  I've even caught her being a little monkey trying to crawl up furniture!  YIKES!  It seems like it was over night that she turned into my little adventure/risk taker.  She has a very sweet personality - as long as she doesn't crawl on a toy or get upset because she can't have something her big brother is playing with!  She just started to get VERY vocal talking so loudly that I now put my finger on her mouth and with some exasperation say "SHHH!"

My two year old, Ethan, is going through what I can only describe as the "terrible twos!"  Ethan has always been an incredible sleeper.  Up until 2 weeks ago he was still sleeping close to 12 hours at night plus taking 2 naps a day.  This really helped me keep my sanity as a mom :)  However, now that Ethan has turned 2 he is getting up at 5 a.m., not even sleepy until 9 p.m., and only taking one nap a day.  The sudden and drastic change in his sleeping behavior just seemed to come in the blink of an eye giving me no time to be prepared for having him up all day!  He is also starting to scream and cry when we put him to bed.  That is something else we have never dealt with (at least not on an extreme level).  It is so-o hard with me being pregnant and having to keep my feet elevated at night because of the pain!  Poor Jon has had to deal with a good majority of this "not willing to sleep" problem :(

Then there is the disobedience and temper that is a constant battle ALL day.  I am completely worn out by the time Jon gets home around 5:30 p.m.  Jon and I have actually been in tears praying for our little boy.  I NEVER thought my child would act the way he does!  We try so hard to instill first-time obedience, but I know that in my chronic state of fatigue/exhaustion that we are not always up to par.  WOW, do we NEED the Lord's strength and help in raising children, especially this child!  He is VERY stubborn and willful.   Wondering which one of his parents are like that?  W-e-l-l, I would have to say both of us :)  As a mom I am thankful that I have some of this stubbornness because it is needed to win the "clash" of wills.

Something my very Godly mom has told me many times is NEVER let the child win the battle!  We as parents need to be the one to guide and direct our children.  Our children should not be dictating everything we (and many times everyone else) do.  I do know that making choices to prevent problems from happening is wise.  If I know that Ethan is really struggling with his attitude I may choose not to go out with him that day.--This is not compromising when you make choices like this.  It is choosing your battle!  There are some things I just do not let bother me now because I KNOW that I have enough battles brought to me during the day that I don't need to make an issue out of something else.  I think the more children I have the more I realize that being a "laid back" parent is not ALWAYS bad.  Making sure that my child is obedient is much more important than whether his toys are all over the living room floor :)  My perfectionism still creeps in every once in a while, but for the most part I've learned not to let things that are really just "preferences" bother me.  Life is too short to be nit picky with my kids!!!

Both Jon and I absolutely LOVE our kids!  We know that all the "work" involved in training our children is definitely worth it!  Those who choose not to have large family's may not have all the tiredness and difficulties, but they certainly don't get to reap all the rewards and blessings either!  I am extremely thankful for my children and for the one still inside me.  I AM blessed!

More Holiday Pictures

Wrapped in a red dress and a BIG bow!

This Sunday I did not even attempt to get a picture with both kids in it.  Neither child likes to sit still for pictures so getting a "good" picture of them together is almost impossible.  Since the pictures were before church this week I got some nice smiles.  Taking pictures in the morning is much better than trying to do it at night when the kids are tired and cranky.  It can make me cranky trying to do that!!!  Here are the much happier pictures from this Sunday:

Precious Boy

Happy, Happy Girl

Do you see the mischief?

Look a Like?!

I LOVE this expression of hers!

Sweet, Baby Girl

Playmates!

Ethan just LOVES...

to go

see

Tanner.

Playing with 

the ball

is a favorite

game of theirs!

Late Sunday Pics.

This past Sunday my kids and I were sick again! I wasn't able to take the pictures that I had hoped to. But, we received a gift card to Olive Garden in the mail so I dressed the kids up for that this week! By-the-way, Olive Garden is my favorite restaurant and I am so-o thankful to Jon's grandma for the early present!!!

 

 

My 11 Month "Cheerio"

Madison LOVES her cheerios!  I have started calling her my little "Cheerio."  She has a VERY happy personality!  She is content so much of the time.  It is a huge blessing!  I think the Lord new I needed an easy-going 2nd child!

For the past few weeks I have found Madison standing in her crib in the mornings and after nap times.  It is so-o cute!  She always has a great big smile for me.  She looks like such a big girl standing in her crib.  Part of me is in denial that she is growing out of babyhood.  But, she still cuddles constantly with me and puts her thumb in her mouth.  It's so endearing!!!

Her favorite word is "hi" and she says it ALL day long!  She has also said, "ma ma, da da, ball, cow, duck, dog, cat and uh oh."  She just started the sign language for "please."

She is definitely the little girl of my dreams!  She laughs very hard at silly things.  Ever known a person that you had to laugh with every time they laughed?  Well, that is how infectious her laugh is.  Inevitably when she starts laughing so do I! 

One more month and she will be a one year old.  This past year seems to have flown by.  It makes me think of that song "Cherish the Moments" by Ron Hamilton.  I used to wonder as a child about the women who always shed tears during that song.  Now that I am a mom I totally understand!  You just can't rewind the time and play it over again.  This is the only year we have with our child at this age.  We need to enjoy it even on the days when we have to endure it.

"Lord, thank you for my children.  Thank you for all the blessings and joy that they bring to my life.  Thank you for giving me the gift of motherhood.  Please help me to train my little boy and girl to obey so that they are prepared to obey you.  Please help me to make good use of the time you have given me with them."

Random Fun with Picture Cropping and Effects

Ethan's 2 Year Birthday Celebration!

The Big 2

We LOVE you!

Not sure about the candles!

Instead of blowing on his candles he started putting his forehead on them!  Yikes!!!

Eats the frosting, but not the cake!

Ethan loves finger jello :)

New broom and dust pan.--mommy's idea!

New favorite spot to lounge!-Thanks grandparents! 

Enjoying Ethan's new Colts cup and bean bag

Having fun with the new golf ball and dust pan!

Giving Pastor a 5?!

Precious people in our kids lives!

Focused on the Fight or Bruised in the Battle?

My Favorite Verse:
Isaiah 41:10  "Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

For some time I have debated about writing a blog about some of my struggles.  I don't want to focus on the "trials" or the negative part of life.  Yet, this title came to me and inspired me to write and be an encouragement to myself and others that deal with health problems.  Some of you know my struggles, some do not, and there are probably many of you that just do NOT understand!--I've come to realize that the latter is just a part of life, and that those who have never experienced real health issues will probably never understand.--Sorry!  If you have never heard of my health problems - well, all I can say is that people struggle every day with autoimmune diseases and no one even knows :)  Besides, who wants to hear about bruises, pain, insomnia, extreme fatigue, migraines, etc.?  It is so much more fun to hear about my sweet kids!  There are a few people that I do not mind sharing my health issues with, and I know that they will pray for me.  I covet that.  I know that after sleepless nights and hard mornings those prayers help me through another day.

Even though I am still young, only 28, I do not understand when older people talk about the vitality, energy, and ways they could multi-task and run circles around every one else when they were young.  Inside I smile and think....if you only knew how hard each day is for me to just get out of bed.   If you only knew that I literally grit my teeth every time I go to lift my little boy and girl because it is so painful.  I could go on, but I do not need to.  Hopefully you get the point!  It is funny, but usually when older people talk about their health problems I totally understand their world!--Hee hee!

I know after some years of health struggles that as a Christian I need to be focused on the fight.  In other words, I need to look to what needs to be done right now and not think about whether or not I'll have the strength to teach junior church, help with the children's Wed. night program,  do nursery duty, give my kids baths, and the list could go on and on!  My pregnancies are very rough and I deal with a lot of bruises and pain.  My doctor tells me to keep my feet elevated the majority of the day.--I laugh!  I am a mother of two small kids (which I LOVE) and I serve in a small church that really doesn't have anyone to replace me when I quit serving.  Let me stop here and stay a while!  It makes me sad to see people in perfectly good health who do very little in church when there are so many needs.  Why is it that so many times the one's serving and doing so much are those very pregnant with child, struggling with health issues, or the same one's who have had to do it for the last 25 years?!  Well, the answer is simple to me.  Some have a heart to serve and others do not.  How can you sit and hear announcements of the areas that need people to serve and not be willing to volunteer?  Since I push myself to keep going every day I have very little sympathy for excuses such as work or tiredness.  I think many people seem to think their life is too hard!  Let's get over our excuses and serve our Lord!

I ask God for strength to keep serving.  I do not want to be sitting during a battle nursing my bruises.  Even though that can be easy to do!  There are times when I have to pull back from ministry and make my family the priority because my health doesn't allow for me to serve outside of the home.  But, I know God wants me to get back up from those hard days and persevere.   

Isaiah 41:10 is such a blessing to me.  I can trust in God to strengthen and help me.  He will uphold me!

To My Two Year Old, Ethan

 

It is hard to believe that 2 years ago today you were born.  You have filled our home with so much joy.  Since I carried you inside of me you have been full of energy and wiggles.  You are a TRUE boy.  If you fall you get back up.  When you get shots you hardly cry.  You would stay outside with Tanner (the neighbor's dog) all day if you could.  You have always been content with anyone that has energy, enthusiasm, and is willing to play with you!  Usually the rougher the better!  When you were a baby I used to wish that you were a little bit more clingy.  Now that you are a boy I'm so thankful that you are independent. It makes leaving you in church nursery so much easier!

Your favorite....

Foods:  Well, I used to say your favorite food was everything you could eat!  You are now getting a little more choosy.  But, you still eat VERY well.  You love fruit and meat especially hot dogs and hamburgers.  You could live off of fries and chicken nuggets, but I won't let you :)  You really enjoy steamed carrots, and always eat all the carrots out of our mixed vegetables!  You ask for cheese and juice all the time.  But, you are a smart cookie and won't touch sliced American cheese.  It is the cheddar cheese off the block that you want.  Peanut butter and jelly is a staple for lunch, but you also eat sliced turkey a lot. 

Toys:  the tree house, big lego blocks, cell phones, an old computer that doesn't work, and balls

Sleeping buddies:  transportation blanket, big bear, big lion, pillow, and your cherished Winnie the pooh

Person:  Well that would be a toss up between Madison and Daddy.  You LOVE Maddie because she is your faithful playmate that follows you around like a little puppy dog and laughs really hard at all you do.  You LOVE Daddy because he teases you, plays rough, and reads books to you.

Books:  Dr. Seuss and picture books that we can point to the picture and tell you the name of the object in the pic.

Things to do:  skype grandma, color with 
crayons, play in your room with sissy, watch videos, play outside, and dance to music--(It doesn't matter if I'm just singing "Jesus Loves Me" you will be doing some very funny moves!  You have always loved music and even though we don't dance we find your moves hilarious :)

You are now a little boy.  We pray that you will grow up to be sensitive to God's leading in your life, and that you will live for Him.  We thank God for the treasure He has given us in you.  We LOVE you so-o much!  We are so thankful for you.