New Events

Bean was wanting to play last night while we were at a friend's house so out came the Exersaucer. He had so much fun in it for his first time!

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New love

Mason had a surprise trip to Downtown Disney this week after we took Nena to the airport. He seriously played with Legos in the Lego Store for an hour and a half!
Picking some out from the monster Lego Wall!

Liam chilling in his stroller next to the life size Buzz Lightyear made entirely out of Legos

Dr. Seuss meets Maria

Maria found these cute reversible hats online and then she called me to come craft.....this is what she ended up with after 2 hours :)

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Love...Hate...

I love airports when you get to travel and enjoy new places.

I hate the airport when it means someone we love has to go away, like today with Nena leaving.

They both love those hugs!

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Only with Nena

While Nena has been here and I have been out of commission my boys have completely capitalized on the opportunity to be spoiled and enjoy the time with their Nena.

Bean getting carried for every little whimper he made!

Both little ones out shopping for MJD and his school clothes.

MJD totally worked her over and got her to pay for him to ride cars in the new play area of the mall.

Saturday spent at Chuck E. Cheese

His personal assistant :)

Being a little noodlehead.

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Coming to a close

The month of July is coming to a close here and I just looked at the archives on the blog...only 7 posts for this month, compared to the 25 last month. It's certainly not that we haven't been up to anything of importance this month. Quite the contrary!

July has been a tad trying in our home..... mystery illness, in and out of doctor's offices, ER room, hospital procedures and surgery. But thankfully we hope all that is behind us. The surgeon repaired a couple of hernias I earned with birthing my boys which is still healing but I'm back up and moving around finally. GI specialist put me on a restricted diet and some medication to ease the stomach issues and we hope everything will return to full health here in the next 6-9 weeks. The best blessing from this mess has been the fact that the doctor wrote me up on disability from work for 9 weeks! Downside is I really can't do much for 9 weeks as it will make my muscles worse :(

Tia Gabi and Ti Richard came to visit us twice, MJD had a blast sleeping in the hotel, going fishing and just wearing them out.

Nena came into town to help us survive the last 2 weeks post surgery.We have been so blessed to have her here to help. I've not been able to lift anything, including Bean since surgery. Not at all an easy time. Papa has also been great in letting her come and stay while he held down the fort back there. There has been some more interest in their condo this month and we're trusting God for someone to purchase it here soon so they can come and be home here full time.

MJD is preparing for preschool and we're getting back to school items and clothing as we count down days for school to start.

Some serious family decisions have been discussed in our home pertaining to a lot of things and some decisions are ready to be finalized. More to come in another post.

We have a couple more days with our Nena and then we're preparing for what could be a devastating departure, for both Nena and the boys. Lord help us!

July has been blessed in many ways, but I can't say I'm sorry to see it over.

3 a.m.

If someone had told me months ago that I was going to love being awake at 3 a.m. every day I would have laughed. Having gone through mid morning feedings before with my big boy and feeling like a zombie, I wasn't exactly looking forward to the 3 a.m. feeding.

3 am has begun to have a new meaning to me.....rather than grumble and struggle out of bed to feed Bean, I've come to relish the wimper from the crib as I pick him up.

For this season in life I am going to savor the opportunity of my 3 a.m. wake up call because there is a sweet peace in my life when I enjoy the stillness of the morning. Not only do I use the time to feed Bean, but I'm learning the great power of 3 a.m. as I hold my sweet boy and share that time with God.

In the time it takes me to feed my guy I can pray through the upcoming day, for all my Bible study ladies, my sweet family, leaders of our church, those dear to my heart and cover my family in the protection of my prayer.

I'm certainly not saying I don't look forward to the days when 8 consecutive hours of sleep come to me, but I am enjoying the growth happening to me until then and hope that by the time those days come these habits will be rooted deep within me to continue.

3 Month Bean

I blinked and bean moved from newborn to infant already. While o love every day and each new stage, it is a little sad that he is old enough to do all that he has been up to lately...

Unswaddling himself

Some sort of hand control when he focuses.

Six month clothing! Not all, but several for sure.

Playing in the big brothers bunk.

Laughing and flirting a lot :)

Sitting up in the stroller!!!

There still isn't a perfect schedule to our world...but he does a good eat, sleep play pattern every 3 hours or so.

Sleeps a 6-7 hour stretch at night so only up about once.

Loves to eat!!!

Loves to cuddle after a feeding.

Has slept in his big boy crib for naps...not ready for night time yet.

Tolerates big brothers hugs quite well. God made him big and solid for survival :)

Just a super sweet little bean. Such a perfect fit for our crew.

(Yes, I have the 3 mo onesie sticker for a photo, the onesie I need is in the wash. Casie, if you read this, can I put in a request for the 4-7 mo set please.)

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Wild at Heart

Hubs is working through the video series "Wild at Heart" with the guys from church at IronMen. I really love him spending time with the men in Bible study because I know how much I appreciate the ladies in the women's study and how much I need them. So I try to encourage him to do it as much as possible. Summer time is great because we both go at the same time and it's not a burden on one or the other of us to watch kids or be alone at home.

Anyways, back to the study. He's not a "book reader" so when I told him to buy the book he shrugged it off. Then when a friend gave him an audio copy he was stoked to start it. We decided to read, well listen, to it together. What an amazing book and such great insight into the world of men! It is astounding to me how in a few hours of going through this book I've been able to figure out years of things that didn't make sense, I didn't understand, tucked away in my mind, etc.

I started it because I thought it would be good to know as a mother of boys, but the more I learn the more I realize it's amazing for our marriage. I need to know this stuff so I can be a better wife, support my man, be a better mother, help my husband in raising our boys, etc.

We're a little more than half way through the book. The "shoulder to shoulder" time has been wonderful. I hate having to turn off the audio because it's such good stuff.

Seriously, if you haven't read this book before, you should definitely read it. Or if you want an audio copy let me know and I'll send you the c.d.s. REALLY GOOD STUFF!

Homemade Play Doh

Some of the fun of being home is blog surfing and finding fun crafts and activities to do with my preschooler. EEEEKKK....he's not a baby, or a toddler, but a preschooler. That term sounds so grown up. I digress....

One of our fun activities which ended up being part of a birthday present was homemade play doh...I was a bit skeptical...actually entirely skeptical that it would not only work, but also be worth playing with. Was I wrong...the stuff is good :) And the memories made making it were fun too.
Mixing it up....yes, that sucker is a tube of food coloring...in the hands on a 3 year old!
Stirring on the stove...under my supervision.
MJD eating applesauce so I can use the containers for the play doh :)
Hot off the stove!!!

Fourth of July

So after "taking it easy" as my hubby insists I do until all these health issues get resolved, (which by the way is frustrating to no end.) I decided we were going to have a blast for Independence Day. Originally we were going to head over and use the in-laws pool for the evening and grill out....then a good old Florida rain shower dampened those plans.

Instead we went to the air conditioned mall for smoothies and some playtime, watched The Patriot while the littles napped....then when MJD woke we went ahead and played in the rain.

Unsure if he's really supposed to be out here getting wet :)
Fear didn't last long...first little puddle...
Goodness do I love this man.
Mud....oh the potential!
Gotta really capitalize on the opportunity to get good and dirty.

We grilled our steaks at home, watched movies in bed and stayed up for fireworks....all the traditional American things enjoyed, including some warm apple pie.

Happy Independence Day! So blessed to be an American.

Under Protest

Mama is radioactive for the next day....Bean took the first bottle of breastmilk and giggled....this go round he has a bottle of formula. Not as happy about it, picture isn't great but his eyes are pink from crying. We are getting him to drink it, but it has been under protest.

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Trying

I am trying not to panic....
I am trying to breathe....
I am trying to just be still and listen..
I am trying to put my money where my mouth is, to walk the walk....
I am scared that medical professionals don't have answers or a diagnosis.
I hate tests that poke, prod and inject...

"My peace I give you." John 14:27

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