The Ex Friend

Sweet Noah is having rough time at school this week. It is breaking my heart. He has cried and cried and cried about school this week. Today he thought he heard me and ran out of his class and was searching the church for Mommy and Daddy. He is NEVER like this! He has made little comments about one of his classmates not being his friend anymore and that he hurts his feelings. What do I do? I already talked to the teachers. They had already separated them but he is still heartbroken. I knew that one day this would come but I thought he would be seven. Not three. Any suggestions on how to build up his little three year old self esteem without enabling? I hate that he doesn't want to go to school because of it! Talk about tearing out my working mother heart.

On a side note we are headed to the circus Saturday and I am so EXCITED!

The Weekend That Just Wasn't to Be

I had big plans for this weekend. We were going to get discounted circus tickets Friday night and then meet both sets of parents for dinner. Saturday we were going to head to the Plains to celebrate out National Championship with the Auburn Family. Sunday we were going to participate in Calvary's Baby Dedication as we made a commitment to Miller and our church family. We have been praying and preparing for this for weeks. We had brunch with our family planned for afterwards with a yummy Dreamcakes Cake. And Miller was going to wear Noah's gown he wore for his baby dedication. I was going to have their initials and dates monogrammed on the bottom of the gown.

This is how the weekend really went down:

Friday 12:30 pm - text from Adam indicating that he was nauseated.

Friday 4:30 pm - Arrive home to a very sick husband.

Friday 9:30 pm- Sick myself.

Saturday 10 am- Feeling better. Begin to try to salvage plans for Sunday's dedication.

Saturday 9pm- Noah throws up. Baby Dedication is definitely off.

I know that God will bless Miller no matter where or how we dedicate him but I have to admit that I am really disappointed by the mess this weekend turned out to be. I am sad about not being able to celebrate in Auburn. I am sad about this yummy cake that is now in my mom's freezer. I am disappointed that Miller and Noah will not have this special traditional gown to share. I am disappointed that Miller will have to wait to be dedicated in front of our church family. I am disappointed that we won't be able to fuss over him and celebrate him tomorrow. I really hate germs. I really hate them when they ruin my plans!

The Things They Say and Do

I love my sweet boys. In the times when I am at the end of my rope I pull up all the cute things they do and say to help me have a little more patience.

Here are some of those cute things:

Miller is holding out his arms when he wants to picked up. Heart meting.

Miller will grab you on the both sides of your face and pull close and then try to eat you alive. Kisses?

Noah says "tomorning" when referring to tomorrow.

He also says circledeeas for quesadillas.

Noah adores reading stories with Miller and me. He gets very upset if we don't all get to read together.

Noah is fascinated with where Jesus is. He asks me all the time where he is.

Noah asked if our stomachs have holes for the food to come in and out.

These little things are the things I hope I always remember about my little boys.

The Good Normal Day

Today was just a plain normal good day.

I got up this morning at 5:30 which is my new morning wake up time. I LOVE it. Seriously. I don't know how I ever got up (on school days) any later. I take a leisurely shower, get ready, have a devotional, make my lunch, and leave the house. I get to school around 7:15, giving me forty five minutes to get ready for the kiddos.

I have been pretty dilgent about my morning devotional since starting back to school and I can really feel a total differnce in my attitude. I really NEED that time with Jesus. This morning was a little different as I was putting food in the crock pot.

Sidenote: I created a meal plan for January that has really helped me plan and keep our grocery budget on track. Monday nights are frozen casserole nights. Tuesdays are recipe nights. Wednesday nights are crock pot nights (cause we are all going to Wednesday night church now, used to be just Adam and Noah.). Thursday nights are foraging in the cupboard and leftover nights. Friday is pizza (ordering in or making our own pizzas or calzones). Saturday night is ethnic food night. Sundays are soup and sandwiches.

So I didn't have as much time to have a devotional. As I was driving to school (down a back

street to find some leaves by the creek for Leonardo da Vinci Centers, leaves because he was not only an artist but a botanist) I remembered that my Daily Devotional App on my phone will read it to me. Awesome. So I listened to my scripture devotional. And there were verses that stayed with me and encouraged me all day. I felt so blessed.

School for once didn't overwhelm me. I just did the best that I could, trying to teach creatively and cross things off my long to do list. I am in LOVE with my fourth block class. It is my one regular class this semester. I spent the first two days interviewing each student trying to get to know them. And I feel like I do. I am not reaching everyone of them but more than I would normally. I look forward to them coming to class and talking with them. They require A LOT of patience. But I feel like we are gong to make it. Its a miracle.

I left school around four. My earliest departure yet. For the Cottondale Post Office where I have developed a friendly little rapport with Homer the postman. We are on a major budget. But I still want to buy cute clothes for Miller and Noah . And I still am in need of some work clothes. (Last week one of my trusty sweater shirts tore a huge hole and left my back exposed. Totally embarassing! But funny story now. Adam had to bring me clothes!) So when I cleaned out my closet a couple of weeks ago I made two bags. The give away bag and the EBay bag. Things I don't wear or don't fit I am getting rid of. No need to keep those size 6 pants from college. No matter how hard I work, those are not happening again. I am not ready to sell the boys clothes yet. And at the advice of friends I will probably consign those. But I have already made 90$. It just goes into my PayPal account and I use it as an allowance. I feel so much freedom. I also feel like I am being resourceful and using what God as blessed me with. Plus check out Little Button Designs on Etsy and Facebook to see the cute shirt and romper I ordered for Noah and Miller, basically for free. And I got two pairs of work pants and two sweaters. And freezer containers for my homemade baby food. Love it. But it requires random trips to the post office.

After visiting with Homer, the friendliest postman in America (really), I drove the thirty five minutes to daycare. Talked extensively with the boys' teachers. Miller LOVES Miss Caroline. He kept turning into her and laughing. I had to pry him away. That is great! Noah had a better report. Then we were off to church. I started a new Women's Bible Study tonight. We are doing Victoriously Frazzled and it is awesome. Not only is God bringing me peace in the chaos of my life but I am reconnecting with old friends and making some new friendships. I am excited about it.

On the way home Noah told me Jesus is in our hearts not our stomachs because he would get dirty there. Isn't that a great example of the three year old mind?

We came home to a crock pot roast and veggies. Read some good stories and got into bed. It was just a normal day. But I feel light and peaceful and happy. Oh so happy. Even though my to do list is longer than ever.

Who could look at these faces and not be happy?

May your normal days be good ones too!

The Five Month Old

Miller is five months old!! (It happened last Monday but I am a little behind!) He continues to add so much joy to our family. This was an eventful month. Miller had his first big illness. RSV. He also started eating baby food and he LOVES it! He has tried squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, pears, peaches, and bananas. He also started daycare. He is adjusting better. He isn't sleeping there much. But he has been in the best moods at home. He is all smiles and he loves to laugh. At just random things. It is delightful. He and Noah are so different. And I love watching his personality develop. He is just adorable and I love him so very much. To celebrate his five months I will give a list of Miller's Top Five Things:

5. Sleep Sacks- He just sleeps better in them. We started to take one to school. I need to order a couple more for him in different weights.

4. Fruit- Oh how he loves fruit! He does eat his veggies but when he gets peaches or pears or bananas. Oh my! He cries when they are gone.

3. People- He loves other people! Babies and adults a like, he is all smiles and laughs at peoples.

2. Spikes- His dinosaur lovie..... he recognizes him now and just loves snuggling with him.

1. Noah- If Noah speaks to Miller, Miller will just dissolve into laughter!!! It makes this mom really happy! Now on to the pictures!

Miller as a newborn:Miller at One Month:Miller at Two Months:Miller at Three Months: Miller's Five Month Pictures:

Miller's photo shoot this month spanned three days and proved to be a little difficult.Miller is trying to sit up on his own. He is very active and not very still for photos :) Eventually to ensure some smiles I involved Noah.

The National Champions

About fifteen years ago I went with my school's show choir to a contest in Auburn. I was not an Auburn fan at this point. My Daddy was an Alabama fan and I grew up saying "Roll Tide" and shaking red and white pom poms. I was seriously considering Notre Dame or St. Mary's and then Notre Dame. But I probably was headed for Samford. But God had different plans for me. When I stepped on campus in Auburn I fell in love. I wasn't overcome with the beauty of the campus. But the immediate feeling that overcame me. It was feeling that I was at home. I was at peace. And over the next few years I prayed about that feeling and really felt God telling me to go to Auburn. I have loved Auburn ever since that trip. God had special plans for me there, that included cementing our relationship, growing into myself, and finding the love of my life. And every time I drive down 280 and get onto College Street I feel like I am coming home. I will always love Auburn for the person it helped me to become.

I love the tradition of Auburn. I love that it gives you instant admittance into a family of people that love it like I do. Even around the world we have greeted with a "War Eagle". I love hearing stories of peace corps volunteer going to great lengths to watch the championship game. I love the little boys down the street from my parents who make their own Toomer's Corner. I love when our leadership hires Godly men to lead our athletic teams. And I love when they win National Championships they give glory to God.

I was a wreck on Monday. I was nervous and excited. I was agitated and frustrated that ice and snow ruined our plans and left me stuck in Tuscaloosa. But I pulled my self out of it and created a little Auburn in Tuscaloosa.

I really can't say how excited I was when we won. I may not have been in the stadium or in Auburn rolling for real.... but I was ecstatic in my living room. Crying like a baby.

The Man of My Dreams

Today is our sixth anniversary. We are spending it eating Japanese food and watching "Date Night". Tonight I am so very thankful for the man of my dreams.

Lately I have been picturing our life together as a journey on a sailboat. (It might be the fact that the song, Dancing Through the Minefields, has been on WDJC every time I start the car.) Sometimes the sailing is smooth and sometimes it is rocky and storming. But we sail out into no matter what, together.

When I feel like my life in that little boat is being bounced around I am thankful to have Adam as my partner. He makes the scary moments not as scary. And he makes the joyful ones even more joyful. I love him for many reasons but as I reflect on this past year of our marriage I am thankful for his support. He supports me even when I am being crazy. He encourages me. I realize that almost everything he does, he has me and my best interests at heart. He adores me. Maybe not in that first month of dating kind of adore, but in the support you in all of your best and worst moments kind of way. I am so spoiled. And I am blessed to be loved by such a selfless man.

"I would choose you every time."

The Bible Study Blog

I am super excited to start No Other Gods this week with those of you who decided to join! I have started a new blog for this study (and hopefully other studies in the future.) There is link to the right. Members of the study have been made authors to the blog as well. We are just starting so please feel free to join as well!

The Sick Baby

I am writing and posting this during halftime of the National Championship Game. I am nervous. I have that nervous energy thing going on. Last time it resulted in very clean closets and a full freezer.

Miller has been a very sick little baby. He has been coughing and had a runny nose for several weeks but it got much worse last week and his breathing grew labored. We took him in and what do you know...RSV. I looked back to confirm but Noah had his asthma causing RSV bout at the same exact age. Almost to the day. Isn't that weird?

Miller was so pitiful. And breathing so fast. There were a couple days where I wanted to stay awake and watch him. But his illness coincided with my return to work. In fact the day I went back Noah also came down with a 24hr stomach bug. Adam did a great job with both of them!

I really felt that God gave me great peace about my sick babies. In fact one night, the night before the students were to return, and Miller's worst night, God gave me this verse in my daily readings, "In peace I will both lie down and sleep , for you alone O lord make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8. I slept like a baby and didn't worry a bit.

Miller is doing much better. He is still coughing a good bit and not eating very well. And we will have to wait and see about the asthma possibility. But we have been there before and so has God. This icy weather has given me two more unexpected days with my sweet sick baby. I am grateful.

The Big Eater

Look who is eating his vegetables! Yummy.

Miller loves having control of the spoon. We usually give him one to hold. But sometimes he ends up with two!

The New Years Freak Out

On New Year's Eve I pretty much ruined out at home date with some serious discussions about life.

I am so glad that Adam understands me and probably anticipated some kind of down in the dumps talk prior to school starting. He loves me through it all. Then on New Year's day I freaked out and went into a manic determined nesting kind of frenzy. Adam went to work and during the boys' nap and after they were in bed.... I made and froze 50 servings of baby food, cleaned out my closet (which could have been featured on hoarders), and both of my dressers, and made and froze three casseroles. Craziness. I was a little nervous about going back to work. A little nervous energy is good for my house though!

The Adventures With Xander

The week between Christmas and New Year's Emily checked into UAB to have some observations of her seizures. It was something that really needed to be done so they can figure out what is going on and fix it. But Xander wasn't allowed! One of the days I went to pick him up and he came with me to T-town to spend 24 hours of fun with his cousins. I really enjoyed our time together! We had crazy fun with three three and under. But I hope it was the first of many cousin sleep overs at our house!!!! I just can't get enough of my little Xan Man!

Check out the fun that was had in photos:

Rub a dub dub three boys in the tub.

Three abreast.

Xander found the spanking spoon.

Lunch date!

Storytime. Xander knows what to do for cameras!