The Halloween Season

I love holidays!!!! I am not the biggest Halloween fan but it is so much fun with a little person. We had several Halloween activities the past week or so and hundreds of pictures. Here are the highlights!

The first adventure was my sister's Annual Halloween Party. She always goes to extremes with cute Halloween themed food and a fire out back to roast hot dogs. And costumes are a must! My parents always get in to there costumes. One year they were Peace and Quiet. (A hippie and a mime) This year they were cardiac arrest. (A cop and a heart) Noah was a giraffe and Adam and I were zoo keepers.

Here's the giraffe!

Noah enjoyed relaxing on top of his aunt and new cousin by the fire pit.

This is a giraffe staff member and baby giraffe.
This is Jason my brother in law as Richard Simmons. Jenny was an old lady in workout clothes, sweating to the oldies!

Next was the church Fall Festival. We had fun volunteering at the duck pond and strolling around with friends and their cute babies! Here's Maddie the Sheep. And Sela the cutest pig ever!!!
They had a Moon Walk for babies and Noah loved it. He didn't want to get out!
Then it was time to carve the pumpkin. This year's pumpkin is Theodore.
Noah liked the gunk.
This is the finished fall scape. Mom helped me visualize. And Laura, my best friend ever!, stayed up really really late after a Bama game to paint my white pumpkin with a beautiful monogram.
Noah took some pictures before the Halloween Trick or Treaters came.
Noah loves people and couldn't wait to greet the Trick or Treaters.
Our neighbors the Brannans were our first vistors. Cass, the dad, is the preschool minister at our church. Mary Beth, the mom, grew up in Birmingham and we talk all the time about what a small world it is. This is Caden and Noah. Caulder is three months old and was attached to Mary Beth in his carrier. Noah really loved Caden's monkey ears! And here's a video of the giraffe on his first Halloween.

Adam and I finished up Halloween with a scary movie and popcorn on the couch. I hope everyone enjoyed their Halloween!

The Training

Now that Noah is heading out of the baby stage the requirements for his physical needs are not as demanding as they once were. But now the requirements for his spiritual and emotional needs are greater. We are working on discipline as he tests the boundaries we set up for him. We adore him and he knows it. He is such a happy little boy. He squeals out of joy often while playing alone or with us and Charlie. He is a delight. As it becomes evident that he understands us better it is time to start focusing on training him up in Christ. We have always prayed, talked, and read Bible stories with him. But now I am trying to find ways to be more deliberate in his training. Several friends have their toddlers and children memorize verses. Our Preschool department at Calvary provides a monthly verse and works on it at church. Since Noah can't talk yet, I thought in this next year we would pick a qualities we want to teach him such as the fruit of the spirit. And each month we will find situations to model the quality, read stories about it, do activities for it and so on. So we will be starting tomorrow on November 1st. Our quality this month is gratefulness. Should be an easy one to start with for Thanksgiving. If you have any suggestions for activities and things for gratefulness please let me know! December will be joyfulness.

On a side note.... Why am I so sad about his birthday????? Does anyone share in this weird emotional experience? I should be thrilled! Instead I tear up every time I think about it.

The Joy

In a bible study a year or two ago we were studying the Fruits of Spirit. And we discussed how joy is a choice we make. "I choose Joy." is a mantra for our little group and sometime I will send or get an email with just those words on it. I have brought this up on th blog before. But I needed a refresher course this week. It is easy to feel defeated in this world. It is easy to allow circumstance and attitudes of others drag you down. It is easy to allow the world to poison you with its words and ways. It is harder to find joy when you feel so defeated. So here is where I have found joy in the defeating few weeks at BHS and in Tuscaloosa......

News that Noah will have a new cousin!!!!! Congratulations Jason and Jenny. The three of us are thrilled and look forward to welcoming another Neal into the world! We love you all!

Noah is learning to signal touchdowns and give high fives. It is adorable.

Birthday party plans are in full swing and Mimi is an angel as she has made my ideas materialize while I am to busy to breathe in and out!

I got up at 5:30 Monday morning and walked around the neighborhood. I sang praise songs on my Ipod and sprinkled prayers for my neighbors. I felt the Lord's embrace through the refreshingly cool air.

I surprised Adam in the newsroom just to get a hug from the man I love.

A student showed up at my door this morning holding out a Bible. He said Mrs. Harris said to read Psalm 121. I tried so hard not to cry in the message God sent through a sweet friend who understands me.

I enjoyed some Reese Pumpkins.

Due to a headache (not joyful) I slept ten hours on Monday night.

Thanks to some new organization skills introduced by Megan my desk has been clutter free inside and out for two weeks.

I choose joy!

The Pumpkin Patch

I love fall! It is a season full of fun things to celebrate. The heat subsides a little. And there are pumpkins and beautiful colors everywhere. Plus it kicks off the holiday season. I am excited to get to watch Noah experience all of these favorites about fall. This weekend we went to a pumpkin patch. Noah loved the petting zoo and hayride. We took a thousand pictures. Literally. Well almost. Enjoy!

The Eleventh Month

All around me was glass. Below was London at sunset. I looked across the small space at Adam as he looked at the Thames River a hundred feet or so below. I thought to myself, " I love this man. " I thanked God for giving us this opportunity to travel together and for the love between us.

I sat on the floor of the bathroom. I stared down at three positive pregnancy tests in joy, disbelief, fear, shock, happiness, and a mixture of all sorts of emotion poured out and down my face. "Adam........."

I turned off the hairdryer and stopped getting ready for work to throw up for the third time. It didn't even phase me. I had to go to school. I didn't have any days to stay home and throw up. So I brushed my teeth again. Applied some lipstick. Slapped on a fake smile and headed out the door to change lives or babysit. Whatever it is I do at school.

I sat wrapped in a paper sheet on the table at Dr. Ingram's office. I knew it had to be bad. It's bad if the nurse doesn't even tell you. I was afraid I'd have to go back to St. Vincent's for monitoring. Or worse to deliver four weeks early. Am I ready to be a mother? Has God finished preparing me emotionally and mentally? I did it. He's here. Over there in that plastic bed. Adam looks nervous. He's not making any noise. Wait... there it is. A weak cry but a cry. Beautiful. I'm already in love.
The day is kind of warm. A young woman is walking her brand new baby in a stroller. I burst into tears. I'm riding in the car with my mom going to see Noah in the NICU during the afternoon visiting hours. I want to be walking my brand new baby in the stroller not holding him covered with wires.

I must have changed his outfit five times today. He's so sweet and soft. He sleeps and eats. I am so incredibly happy to have him at home. This is what I dreamed of as a little girl. An incredible husband, motherhood, and a golden retriever.

Noah is screaming. He will not go to sleep. Adam has a fever. I've been awake for 25 hours. I'm driving around Tuscaloosa at three am singing lullabies trying to lull him to sleep. Its not working. "Father, please help me. I'm at the end of my rope. I need your grace and mercy. I need your Hands to help me." Enter Mimi and Papa.

What time is it? Is he okay?? He slept all night. HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT.

I'm so embarrassed. I am crying. At school. In our secretary's office. It's Noah's first day at daycare. Am I doing the right thing? Is he going to be okay? Will he think I abandoned him? I will never forget the kind words and encouragement and comfort she gave.

Noah's sweet head is resting on my shoulder. He is breathing deep in sweet little baby snores. Slow hot tears are streaming down my face as I pray to God in the darkness of the nursery . I ask for guidance, patience, love and hope that I He will overcome my inadequacies as a wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister and friend. I find his answer in the smile on Noah's sleeping face.

Spring brought the Jumperoo, cereal, laughter and hope for a long summer off with a beautiful baby boy. Time to get back to the things I love Adam, friends, family, cooking, creating and of course the beach.

"In the great green room there is a telephone and a red balloon. And a picture of a cow jumping over the moon. And three bears sitting in chairs...."

My heart is full. I am satisfied and finished. I closed the door on a rough school year. I am done and I have done a good job. I am proud of what God was able to accomplish through me.

"Father, look at the joy on his face. Look at that innocent wonder. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of his life." No Noah. We don't eat sand.

Who knew a baby could move so fast. Crawling makes this a whole new ball game. God answered my prayer. Again. I got to see it first. He did it just a few days before going back to daycare.

7 missed calls. Doesn't he know I can't answer? I'm in meeting s all day. The kids come tomorrow. Voicemail. The carseat. I left the carseat in my car. Adam is walking Noah to daycare in the stroller. In the rain. And he isn't mad. Thank you God for Adam's patience with his crazy wife.

Noah fell on his tooth and knocked it loose. He has been bit twice. He only gets one nap. He's fussy all the time. I am fighting a losing battle at school. I failing at my mission. The kids are not receiving God's love through me. What am I doing? Is this truly God's plan for me? Father am I sacrificing his well being for extra income? Am I impacting anyone? Help me.

Sweet slobbery kisses. Deep belly laughter. Curiosity. These are the things I am thankful for.

Adam is holding Noah up to the glass. Pointing at the sealions. Tears form in my eyes as I think about the photograph of my father and I at this same sealion pool. I am so filled with joy at the oppurtunity to build memories with Noah like my parents built them in me.

As I sat down to reflect on Noah's eleventh month birthday I was filled with these snippets of the story God is writing in my life through Noah. Not only is He shaping and molding Noah but He is teaching and refining me. Not every memory is pleasant but each was designed by God to speak a particular message to my heart. My prayer is that I always hear his voice. I am so blessed and thankful for all he has done for my family from conception through these past eleven months. What a beautiful love song He sings to me. May I reflect His love to those I am created to bring it to.

The Biter, Now the Girlfriend

Many of you know that there is a biter in Noah's class at school. He has been bitten by this girl three times, each time leaving a nasty purple bruise. I think if he got bit one more time our entire family was going to show up at the daycare in defense of little man. Well, the situation has apparently worked itself out. Apparently earlier in the week the biter had bumped into something and was crying. My sweet boy crawled over and planted a kiss on the biter's forehead. The biter spent the rest of the afternoon following Noah around offering toys. Everyday since his teacher tells me that they are best friends. They play together, follow each other and hug each other all day. It was joked that Noah has his first girlfriend. Isn't God good? Perhaps their new found love and affection for each other will prevent anymore biting. She certainly is attached, she almost burst into tears when I took him home this afternoon!

This was my 100th post! I just want to say thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing. This blog not only connects me to friends and family when I feel lonely and isolated in my busyness but is free therapy functioning as a release for frustration and joy!