1261. that first sip of coffee in the morning

1262. children who remind me constantly about what's really important in life

1263. for a husband who is not lazy in any way - even when he is tired from a long day's work he will wrestle, tickle, play, help out, and serve

1264. late evenings outside

1265. getting organized the night before so that school is prepared and so is Mama :)

1266. shabby-chic projects that turn out well

1267. picnics in the park with friends

1268. Ella Beth beating boys in chase - the girl has some long legs!

1269. talking to and with Porter during the day (I had forgotten how sweet it is to talk to a baby about everything - putting arms into sleeves, noses and toes and fingers, birds, dogs, trees...)

1270. having one tablespoon of dairy a day (for my coffee) and it not tearing up Porter's tummy (I did try having a bit more one day, and just 2-3 tablespoons were too hard on him. Thankful for what I can get though!)

1271. bonding with friends by sharing moments from the past

1272. gearing up for Landon's first baseball season

Psalm 69:30, "I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving."

5 Months

This little fella is 5 months old today! It is hard to believe that 5 full months have passed since Porter was born. He is still a tiny little thing, but he is healthy and such a happy little fella!

Porter achieved a major milestone just this week - he is rolling over!!! I thought that I was going to have to unswaddle him because of his rolling. I tried. For two nights and two full days he was not swaddled. They.Were.Awful. I was literally falling over in the middle of the night standing next to his crib trying to get him to settle. Enough of that! I talked to my dear friend - who happens to be our pediatrician! - and she told me that it was OK for him to be swaddled. I honestly said, "Thank you, Lord!!!" out loud because I was so delighted to hear that. And now we are back on our regularly scheduled sleeping routine. Loveliness. :)

Every where we go, people comment about Porter's eyes. I guess since I see him just about every waking moment of every single day, I don't take as much notice to them. However, when looking at these pictures...WOW! Now I understand. He's got some big and beautiful baby-blues. :)

I took Porter to the doctor two weeks ago, and he weighed 9 lbs, 11 oz. While I'm sure he's gained a few ounces, there hasn't been any significant growth in his weight since then. He's still a tiny little fella for sure. This is a newborn outfit that he's pictured in, but he's in 0-3 month clothes for every day.

He is nursing every 3.5-4 hours these days with one "cluster feeding" in the late evening at 7:30.

Porter's wake periods are starting to stretch out. He will now stay awake 2-2.5 hours during the day. He usually wakes up from his afternoon nap about 5:30 (suppertime, of course), and I do my best to keep him up until 8:30. He occasionally gets a little fussy close to 7:30, but we have plenty of ways (i.e. loud little people) to distract him.

We have been having a lot of "tummy time" lately. If I am holding Porter, he does very well with his head control. It's when he's in a sitting position that his head seems to wobble a bit. So, we've been working on neck strength. Ella Beth is usually great to get in the floor and lay with him so that he has someone to look at and talk to. 

The tiny fella l-o-v-e-s to be talked to! He's a big talker himself, too. He reminds me of his big sister...who is still a big talker. ;)

If Porter doesn't have a toy in his hands, his hands are almost always in his mouth. I keep thinking that he will find that thumb, but he usually just puts as much of his fist into his mouth as he can fit. 

 And then tummy time gets a little tiring...but he's a good sport.

My absolute favorite thing about Porter right now is that he crinkles his nose when he smiles big or laughs. He totally gets it from me, and I love it!! The first time he did it, I almost made him cry because I shouted out to Scott, "Oh my word! He's crinkling his nose already!!!" It tickles me to no end. :)

For fun, here are pictures of Ella Beth and Landon at 3 months. I figure 3 month pictures are the closest comparison since Porter was two months early. (Note: Ella Beth's picture is a picture of a picture...) 

Landon at 3 months -

Porter at 5 months -

They all three look a lot alike...but then, Scott and I look a lot alike as well. :)

My Choice is Not to Lose

If there is no other blog post you ever read, read THIS. I read this back in May, and it stirred my heart deeply. I felt convicted, but made excuses not to do anything about those convictions.

In this "technology centered age" it's hard to break away from technology. The always keeping up with "friends," the "following," and the "pinning" of amazing ideas we wish we had thought of. But what does the constant tie to technology really gain for us? After a great deal of prayer and soul searching, I agree with Rachel Stafford that what we are really gaining is a loss.

A loss of authentic relationships as opposed to blurbs from hundreds of "friends" on Facebook.
A loss of prioritizing what's truly important in our days.
A loss of time that has been wasted.

But most importantly, as parents, we are missing out on our children's childhoods. 

I am going to be vulnerable here and confess that for the last 4 months since Peanut has been home with us, the first sight Birdie and Buddy-Ro usually see in the morning is me nursing Peanut with my iPhone in hand. I have made many different excuses to myself and to the kiddos like, "I just need/want something to do while I'm sitting here." Or, "I'm just trying to stay awake." Or, "I'm reading my Bible on my phone." (Which is usually what I am doing first thing in the morning...but, goodness, I'd rather them have the memory of me with my actual Bible laid open with well-worn pages than a memory of me with my phone.)

I have considered on a number of occasions deleting my Facebook account so as not to have that be a constant distraction. But then another "friend" would become pregnant and I told myself that I didn't want to miss out on her excitement. Or a "friend" would go on a trip and I didn't want to miss those pictures. Or a "friend" from the past would find me and I wanted to catch up. But really, those "friendships" are less than authentic. 

Today, a friend with whom I have a real relationship with (meaning we actually talk in person, see one another in person, fellowship together on a regular basis) shared this blog post with me. It slapped me across the face even harder than when I read it back in May. Because this time I realized that I had done nothing about my earlier convictions.

Today, I did.

Before I even finished re-reading the blog post, I deleted my Facebook page. No more excuses. I simply did it. (Now that may seem drastic to you, but this was my conviction and I was honestly tired of lying to myself that it was harmless.) Maybe your area of struggle is playing Words With Friends instead of getting on the floor and playing with your kids? Maybe it's having your Kindle always in your hand instead of engaging in conversation or reading out loud with your kids? Maybe it's checking your phone/email every single time you hear a chime? I don't know your area of struggle, but I hope that you will pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what decision you need to make in order to put your children first. I truly believe that giving undivided attention is the first and most basic ingredient in any relationship.

After I deleted my Facebook page, I went straight to Birdie-girl and Buddy-Ro who were playing in Birdie's room and said something very close to this:
"Mommy wants to apologize to both of you. I am sorry that you see me on the phone a lot of the
time during the day. I am sorry, Birdie, that last night when you came in to tell me good
night while I was nursing Peanut that you saw me on my phone and thought I was too busy to
kiss you good night. I am sorry if there has ever been a time when you thought Mommy's phone
was more important than you. From now on I will try to only be on my phone if I need to talk
with someone. Everything else can wait."

Their reactions were not magical at the exact moment of my apology, but our day together was very different than recent ones. It's as if Birdie and Buddy-Ro knew that they did not have to compete with anything for their Mama's attention. They didn't have to be "put on hold" or told to "wait, just let me finish this." My choice is not to lose out on my children, and they noticed it right away. Our day was different. It was full.

Full of them.
Full of us. 

My Choice is Not to Lose

If there is no other blog post you ever read, read THIS. I read this back in May, and it stirred my heart deeply. I felt convicted, but made excuses not to do anything about those convictions.

In this "technology centered age" it's hard to break away from technology. The always keeping up with "friends," the "following," and the "pinning" of amazing ideas we wish we had thought of. But what does the constant tie to technology really gain for us? After a great deal of prayer and soul searching, I agree with Rachel Stafford that what we are really gaining is a loss.

A loss of authentic relationships as opposed to blurbs from hundreds of "friends" on Facebook.
A loss of prioritizing what's truly important in our days.
A loss of time that has been wasted.

But most importantly, as parents, we are missing out on our children's childhoods. 

I am going to be vulnerable here and confess that for the last 4 months since Porter has been home with us, the first sight Ella Beth and Landon usually see in the morning is me nursing Porter with my iPhone in hand. I have made many different excuses to myself and to the kiddos like, "I just need/want something to do while I'm sitting here." Or, "I'm just trying to stay awake." Or, "I'm reading my Bible on my phone." (Which is usually what I am doing first thing in the morning...but, goodness, I'd rather them have the memory of me with my actual Bible laid open with well-worn pages than a memory of me with my phone.)

I have considered on a number of occasions deleting my Facebook account so as not to have that be a constant distraction. But then another "friend" would become pregnant and I told myself that I didn't want to miss out on her excitement. Or a "friend" would go on a trip and I didn't want to miss those pictures. Or a "friend" from the past would find me and I wanted to catch up. But really, those "friendships" are less than authentic. 

Today, a friend with whom I have a real relationship with (meaning we actually talk in person, see one another in person, fellowship together on a regular basis) shared this blog post with me. It slapped me across the face even harder than when I read it back in May. Because this time I realized that I had done nothing about my earlier convictions.

Today, I did.

Before I even finished re-reading the blog post, I deleted my Facebook page. No more excuses. I simply did it. (Now that may seem drastic to you, but this was my conviction and I was honestly tired of lying to myself that it was harmless.) Maybe your area of struggle is playing Words With Friends instead of getting on the floor and playing with your kids? Maybe it's having your Kindle always in your hand instead of engaging in conversation or reading out loud with your kids? Maybe it's checking your phone/email every single time you hear a chime? I don't know your area of struggle, but I hope that you will pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what decision you need to make in order to put your children first. I truly believe that giving undivided attention is the first and most basic ingredient in any relationship.

After I deleted my Facebook page, I went straight to Ella Beth and Landon who were playing in Ella Beth's room and said something very close to this:
    "Mommy wants to apologize to both of you. I am sorry that you see me on the phone a lot of the
     time during the day. I am sorry, Ella Beth, that last night when you came in to tell me good
     night while I was nursing Porter that you saw me on my phone and thought I was too busy to
     kiss you good night. I am sorry if there has ever been a time when you thought Mommy's phone
     was more important than you. From now on I will try to only be on my phone if I need to talk
     with someone. Everything else can wait."

Their reactions were not magical at the exact moment of my apology, but our day together was very different than recent ones. It's as if Ella Beth and Landon knew that they did not have to compete with anything for their Mama's attention. They didn't have to be "put on hold" or told to "wait, just let me finish this." My choice is not to lose out on my children, and they noticed it right away. Our day was different. It was full.

Full of them.
Full of us. 

First Day of School - 2012

This post is long over-due. We have been "back to school" for a week and two days now. Things are back in gear, and we are all in the swing of things. If Porter will get back on his awesome nap schedule, our routine would be as close to perfect as it could get. (The tiny fella would learn to roll over and, thus, need to be un-swaddled and re-trained on how to sleep now that school has started.)

We always start off school with a good breakfast. Last year it was CHOCOLATE chip muffins. This year it was CHOCOLATE chip pancakes, eggs, and bacon. We are a CHOCOLATE lovin' family. (Ghirardelli's semi-sweet chips are dairy free - score for Porter and me!!!)

Gotta love bed-head...and Cracker Barrel syrup. :)

I can't believe Miss Sweet and Sassy is in 2nd grade!! I am so thankful that she enjoys learning. And truly, she makes it easy on me because she has the memory of an elephant (did you know they have amazing memories?!?). She is a very, very, VERY kinesthetic learner. I used to think that she wasn't paying attention and was being disobedient. But, God has given me His grace to understand that Ella Beth just moves around as she learns. I can ask her questions about almost anything we are reading, learning, reviewing and she shocks me that she can answer them. What used to drive me cRaZy (constant movement, up-down-up-down, twirling) is now simply endearing. :)

This is a fella who loves to learn. Landon is different from his big sister, but he truly has a desire to learn. I mean he ASKS to "do school" on Saturdays and is disappointed when I say, "Um, not today, Buddy." Seriously??? Landon tries very hard and has such a good attitude during school (95% of the time ;) ). He still struggles with fine motor skills, but puzzles and problem solving come naturally to him. I find it interesting that Landon is the one with cRaZy energy levels most of the day, but sitting still while doing work is easy for him.

On those days that will come when I question why I have chosen to homeschool, I know I will look at this picture and have my answer.

 

We also started off our school year with a field trip on the very first day. Hey, it's Go Big or Go Home. Wait...we HOME school. Nevermind...

While Scott and Landon were on their way home from Illinois last weekend, the fuel pump on Scott's truck went out. So we packed the car and went to pick it up. It just so happened that his truck was in Chattanooga, and we surprised the kiddos with a trip to the aquarium. :)

I made a math worksheet for the kiddos (to keep the field trip educational, of course). Since Scott is the math man, he got to teach the lesson. :)

Landon loves butterflies, and we had to make it very clear that he could NOT catch them before we went in!

This is the observatory to watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalises.

The picture isn't great, but you can see two emerging. We all thought this was super cool to see!

Landon is our brave fella and was all about the petting tanks. Luckily he didn't fall into any of them. :)

This penguin swam up and down its tank over and over and over as Ella Beth walked up and down. She LOVED it!

Porter was such a good sport, and he was mesmerized by all of the different colored fish. 

Ever since Porter was born, Ella Beth rarely goes anywhere without her baby "Miss Meredith." (Ella Beth named "Miss Meredith" after my best friend when she was two years old!) She's a really good little mama to tote her around, keep up with her, and even make sure she has a great view. ;)

Did I mention that my biggest fella is brave?!? As you can see, Ella Beth was no where in sight as Landon was petting this horrid creature snake. And his mama had her lens zoomed in as far as she could from across.the.room. Seriously, this boy does NOT get this from me!!

 

I'm a bit worried that we set the bar too high for our school kick-off, but we had a great time anyway!

Multitudes on Monday

1248. the first night of Porter being swaddle-free and sleeping well

1249. crunchy granola with maple pecans

1250. homemade French toast that Landon will eat....miraculous!

1251. cuddling on the couch and watching The Pioneer Woman with Ella Beth

1252. rearranging furniture

1253. a clean, organized kitchen

1254. my new pastry cutter

1255. going fishing with new friends

1256. being treated to lunch

1257. cooler hot days (as in 85 degrees;) )

1258. our next door neighbor ringing the door bell with warm cinnamon bread in hand

1259. cinnamon bread that is devoured in less than an hour - don't judge me, it was the kiddos who ate it ALL!

1260. watching owls fly into our yard in the evenings

Romans 7:25, "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

20 :: 20

20 weeks pregnant (photo courtesy of Ella Beth)

 

Porter 20 weeks old

Multitudes on Monday (Wednesday style)

A crazy weekend started off a crazy week. But I am still thankful.

1235. Scott and Landon home safe after a whirlwind of an adventure to Illinois

1236. Triple-A assistance

1237. HERO units on the interstate (I said it was a whirlwind of an adventure, and I meant it.)

1238. a surprise trip to the Chattanooga Aquarium

1239. watching Landon run around full of energy and excitement

1240. an adaptable baby boy

1241. rain for the dry ground

1242. fresh cut roses from our yard to brighten the kitchen

1243. starting back to school

1244. fun, new school supplies

1245. sheet protectors for activities to do over and over again

1246. fun worksheets for Landon to keep him engaged in his work

1247. Ella Beth choosing to work hard and have a good attitude

Psalm 7:17, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High."

6 Year Interview

My girl still calls me "Mommy." She is a mix of sweet and messy, sassy and shy, prissy and tomboy. She's growing up fast these days, but she still loves to cuddle her stuffed animals. She wants so badly to be independent, yet she rarely wants to leave my side. She's reflective and deep. We butt heads more than I care to admit - sometimes because we are so different, and sometimes because we are so much alike. She can drive me crazy in two minutes, but the second she's off on her own I miss her and want to go find her. She is well loved by everyone in the family - and she loves being the center of attention. She loves to have her picture taken. I never have to ask her to pose in any way because she's always got a pose of her own. Getting her to look at the camera, though, can be a challenge. This girl has a big heart for other people, prays for Kenya and Haiti often, loves most foods, and is generally peppy and perky with a smile to share. She's sensitive and creative; quirky and silly. She has the best cackle laugh EVER!! My girl is my girl. :)

One of my favorite traditions is the yearly interview with my kiddos. It's fun to watch how they change interests as they grow. I love the things my 6 year old girl has to say:

(M)ama: What do you want to be when you grow up?

(E)lla(Beth): A chef.

(M): Why do you want to be a chef?

(EB): Because I like to cook and make new recipes!

(M): What is your favorite thing God has made?

(EB): Dirt.

(M): What is it you like about dirt?

(EB): I like that I can add water to it and make mud. (Ewww. We are SO different in some areas.)

(M): What is your favorite color?

(EB): Purple.

(M): What is your favorite food?

(EB): Shrimp.

(M): What is something you don't like to eat?

(EB): I don't like hotdog buns with my hotdog. (News to me...)

(M): What is your favorite song?

(EB): Anything by Taylor Swift!!! (Lots of excitement!!!)

(M): What are you looking forward to about being 6?

(EB): Being a bigger girl and doing things on my own. (Oh dear. She really is growing up.)

(M): What is your favorite thing to do?

(EB): Get muddy!!! (And her clothes have the stains to prove it.)

(M): What is your favorite thing to wear?

(EB): Either dresses or mud clothes. (Such a paradox, this girl.)

(M): What is your favorite TV show?

(EB): "Call of the Wildman" aka: "Turtleman" (If you have never seen this, please do yourself a favor and google it. It's hilarious, hillybilly, and it cracks me up that this is her favorite thing to watch!)

(M): Who is your favorite friend?

(EB): Kaitlin

(M): What is your favorite thing to do with Mama?

(EB): Spend time just you and me. Oh, and painting our nails. :)

(M): What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

(EB): Go camping.

(M): Do you like school?

(EB): Y-E-S, yes!!! (Whew...at least she can spell!;) )

(M): What is your favorite thing about school?

(EB): Art. I love making things!

(M): What is your favorite thing about Landon?

(EB): How he treats me and how he shares with me. (Melt.)

(M): What is your favorite thing about Porter?

(EB): He's just so cute, and I really like when he smiles at me.

(M): Where is your favorite place to go?

(EB): Menchie's.

(M): What does Daddy do all day?

(EB): Most of the time he works.

(M): What does Mama do all day?

(EB): Feed Porter, change diapers, take care of us, feed us, help us with school. (Well, at least it doesn't go unnoticed!)

(M): What is your favorite restaurant?

(EB): Golden Corral (My least favorite. By far.)

(M): What do you like to eat on your birthday?

(EB): Ham and Pineapple pizza.

(M): I love you, Sweet Pea.

(EB): I love you, too-oo-oo-oo!

And she is 6!

I can not believe that my girl is SIX years old!! But she is, and we have had a great time celebrating her this week!!!

It starts with waking up to streamers hanging from the door.

We had a family pool part this year. Fun and simple. :)

I can't believe I have a little girl who is BIG enough to swim in the deep end. Crazy!!

And no 2012 pool party is complete without Olympic competitions.

There was the diving competition.

The back dive competition.

The full twist.

The jack knife.

The tiny fella was so tired, but kept holding out on his nap so as not to miss any of the excitement.

 Time for pizza, cupcakes, and presents!

It's funny to me how Ella Beth loves to be the center of attention, but when she's expected to do something (like blow out candles, perform in some way, etc), she gets embarrassed or shy. 

Presents!!!

Can't wait to take this kite to the beach. :)

Wishing for cooler weather.

And her big gift from Mama and Daddy - a real guitar. She wanted a red guitar like Taylor Swift, so we got her a Lauren 1/2 guitar. Hoping that she enjoys playing and taking lessons. :)

But when asked to strum a few chords...she gets shy again. ;)

Family shots. :)

I wanted to have something small to give Ella Beth on her actual birthday. And what better way to get excited about school starting than to give the kiddos...

classroom pets?!?!?

 Say hello to Skippy

and Spirit. :)

We invited some close friends over for cupcake decorating on her actual birthday, too. I am all about simple these days, and this was the perfect way to go. It was fun and easy - and the kiddos had a great time!

The birthday girl with her first cupcake.

Kaitlin

Isabelle

Miss Amber and Scarlett

And we even allowed boys to participate. Just at a separate table. ;)

Then the boys went and made a total disaster out of Landon's room with guns, trains, tools, and his dirty clothes (???) while the girls were treated to manicures. :)

Jocelyn spent the night, and the girls played girly things all night.

Ella Beth has been asking to feed Porter a bottle for 4 months. I told her that she could feed him one on her birthday, and she didn't forget.

And Landon wanted a turn.

And so did Jocelyn.

Porter wasn't so sure about being passed around during his bedtime feeding, but he endured it. ;)

It was such fun celebrating our BIG girl. Love her to pieces. :)