Thursday, February 17, 2011

Awhile back I shared with you a song by John Waller called "While I'm Waiting".  This song is one that completely touched my heart, as it spoke clearly about the journey I was on.  Before we were pregnant with Ethan, Monte and I had been trying to conceive for quite a long time.  I had been doing some fertility testing with my doctor and was feeling extremely frustrated that this wasn't happening.  When I heard the song "While I'm Waiting" it spoke straight to my heart about the fact that I truly needed to trust God and keep running the race while I wait for my blessing.

Fast forward to earlier today when I heard this song on the radio.  I couldn't help but shed tears of joy and gratefulness to God for our sweet little Ethan.  I really believe it was important for me to learn to put my faith and trust in God and know that He was (and is) in control.  It took me a long time to really learn that lesson - and it's often one that I have to remind myself of.  Maybe I haven't learned it as well as I would like, but I am still a work in progress!

Today, though, I can rejoice and be glad in the fact that God did reward our faithfulness and our trust in Him while we waited, and He gave us our darling baby boy.

Thank You God.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect addition to our family.  You are amazing and I love you SO much.  I'm sorry that I don't always show it as I should.  Please help me to never take one single moment for granted, because every day is a blessing and a gift from You.



Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Yesterday was amazing!  As I'm sure you all know, yesterday was Valentine's Day.  My husband went above and beyond to make the day wonderful for me - and it was as wonderful as it could be, given the circumstances.  You see, I woke up yesterday morning with the flu and a bad cold.  I had already felt the cold coming on and had taken some preventative measures, but it was bound and determined to hit me, no matter what.  So, when Monte came to kiss me goodbye before he left for work, I mentioned to him that I really didn't feel well.  He gave me some medicine and promised to check in with me later that morning.  I fell back asleep and didn't get up until Ethan started to cry for his morning bottle.  I got up, changed his diaper and fed him - still feeling exhausted and just plain icky.  After Ethan finished feeding and burping, I put him in his swing and called Monte at work.  I told him I really didn't feel well enough to take care of Colin and Ethan.  He told me that he had one meeting he really had to get to that morning and then he was going to come home.  I can tell you that there are no sweeter words that I heard yesterday than that!

He ended up arriving at home in the late morning and immediately took over taking care of Colin and Ethan.  He took them out for awhile so that I could have some quiet time to sleep peacefully.  He came home and made sure I was still taking medicine like I should be (I wasn't .. I'm not good at taking care of myself when I'm sick!).  He was home when all of our other kids got off the bus.  He made dinner and took care of the kids and me.  He gave me the best Valentine's Day gift I could have received because he showed me his unconditional love in action.  My husband showed God's love to me through his selfless actions yesterday and I am so grateful to him for being so wonderful!

Later in the evening I captured this picture on my cell phone of him playing and talking with Ethan, and it just warms my heart completely!


My husband gave me the most stress-free and relaxing Valentine's Day I could have asked for!  I love you Monte!! :)


Friday, February 11, 2011

There are some days when I feel like a headless chicken, running from here to there trying to get everything on my list accomplished.  Today is not one of them.  Today is a day that I am choosing to stay at home and do nothing but play games with Colin, love on Ethan and enjoy being a stay-at-home mom.

Lately I have found that my "To-Do List" is often overwhelming.  Thankfully, my husband and my family don't see the list in the same light.  You see, Monte often tells me that it's okay that the house doesn't get cleaned today, or if he sees that I'm bound and determined to get it done at all costs, he will take care of the kids while I clean or he will ask me how he can help me to get it done.  We work wonderfully as a team, my husband and me! :)  Truth be told, I don't mind it when my "To Do's" are filled with stuff to do around the house.  I more mind it when they involve running from here to Timbuktu (figuratively speaking of course!) in one afternoon and making twelve different stops along the way.  Running errands is definitely not my forte', which is likely why the movies I have to mail to my dad have been on the list since Christmas, the outfit I have to mail to my friend who just had a baby has been on the list since November when I first found it, and why making a second trip to Target to get the things I forgot when I went there last night is just NOT a priority.

Instead, I'm going to sit back and enjoy my latte (made on my own espresso machine, which means that I didn't have to leave the house!), play Memory, Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders with Colin, play the stinky toes game and peek-a-boo with Ethan and just enjoy being at home, because today just feels like one of those days ... a day to be at home!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Today my sweet little baby boy is three months old.  As of right now these are the amazing things I note about him:

- He sleeps solidly through the night.  We put him to bed around 9:30pm and he doesn't wake up until 6:30am.  This is a huge blessing from God!!
- He sleeps almost all morning long (AFTER having slept all night long), waking up only every three hours or so for some food.  This is the time that I try to get some cleaning done or play with Colin.
- Today was his first day in the childcare center at Lifetime Fitness.  According to the worker, he is a dream baby (I think so too!).
- He loves to smile and "talk" to people and does it quite freqently.
- He sleeps better when he's in a room full of noise than a quiet room (I guess this is expected when you're the youngest of five kids)!
- Sometimes when he's fussy it's just because he wants you to uncover his legs and let him kick.  Monte calls this his "bike rider" move.
- He loves the 'stinky toes' game.


He has captured the hearts of all of his siblings, his daddy and his mama and we are so very blessed to celebrate three months with him in our lives!  Happy three month birthday sweet Ethan!  We love you!