Absolute Statements.

When James was a baby I was told often "he looks nothing like you." I understood the statement meant that he looked a lot like his Daddy, but the approach often seemed a little hurtful as his mother who had  just carried him the last nine months. I think it's safe to say that all parents want to be at least somewhat identified with the little blessings that they now love more than anything in this world.

This time around, I have had many people tell me "Jude looks just like you." It's more enjoyable to hear than the previous comment, but the truth is that neither statement is entirely true.

Most of our life is based on our perception, so I'm not a fan of absolute statements about most things.

Thats's why we never make statements in this house like "You always forget to take out the trash..." or "You never listen..." We would never, ever say things like that, right? :) Well, the truth is that we're trying to never make statements like these because, for the most part, they are hurtful and simply untrue.

Even with the best of intentions, we need to be careful about telling our spouses and our children things like "I will never let you down" because more than likely we will disappoint them at some point along the way.

This week marked an anniversary of remembering that we are absolutely flawed, and that God is absolutely good, sovereign, merciful, and faithful. Always.

This week in God's infinite wisdom and timing that could only be His, He ordained the gifting of a beautiful portrait of Jesus to Stephen from one of his customers, an older gentleman that he has gotten to know the last few months and in whom he has gotten to invest his life in. A portrait that was completed by him 11+ years ago, but that was given to us at just the right time. A portrait that is made up solely of all 27,000 words to the Book of John. What an incredible encouragement to us both.

Stephen commented that "if one word were missing from the Book of John we wouldn't have a complete picture of Jesus."And then our all-knowing God spoke to me through the study of His Word this week from this same book. My devotion from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, two nights after receiving this portrait, just so happened (I think not!) to be from John 10.

The absolute statements from John 10 spoke to my heart. There is so much comfort in knowing that "every word of God is flawless" (Proverbs 30:5).

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 

And an excerpt from Morning and Evening (on John 10:27):

"It is true they may not be smooth paths--they may be covered with sharp flinty trials, but they lead to the 'city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant. Let us put full trust in our Leader, since we know that, come prosperity or adversity, sickness or health, popularity or contempt, his purpose shall be worked out, and that purpose shall be pure, unmingled good to every heir of mercy."

When nothing is absolute in this world, rest in the only One that is. The One that will "never leave us nor forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5). The One that will be "with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

The pictures before the pictures...

We snapped a few pictures before our church directory pictures last night at 8:20 p.m. Not an ideal time to take pictures with infants and preschoolers, but we were late to sign-up and so we decided to just roll with it. Since we had gone through all the trouble of ironing, color-coordinating, and bathing (yes, even that is a luxury some days), we thought we should snap a few photos before heading out.

Our pictures turned out pretty well all things considered (the 8:20 appointment, the fact that Jude screamed the entire way to church and James screamed because of Jude's screaming, and James' falling off the stool 57 times while being photographed because he was done.) We even considered making a purchase until we learned that 4 3x5's would cost us 50$!?! We decided to take our complimentary photo and call it a day night. Sorry grandparents aka would-have-been recipients of these photos, but I think Dave Ramsey would affirm our decision to pass on the pictures this time. :)

Breath-Powered Aircraft

James is very into the Bearnstein Bears right now. I think they are making a come back...at least in our house anyway. The library has a huge collection of these books and we recently checked one out about Brother and Sister making breath-powered aircraft i.e. balloons taped onto paper airplanes. James was so excited to try it for himself. It didn't work quite as well as we had hoped but we still had a lot of fun. :) We may have a budding scientist on our hands!

First Fair Fun

James and Jude both experienced their first fair this week. I was pretty impressed with all they had at our county fair and most of the rides were just the right size for James. I was pretty nervous about putting him in a little helicopter by himself because I didn't want him to get upset mid-ride, but he loved it. We made sure he was securely buckled (since we were too big to ride with him! ha!) and I literally waved at him every single time his helicopter passed in true mom fashion. It's funny how you have kids and suddenly don't care what people think of you anymore. If James was happily waving at me, I was going to wave too. :) Anyway, it was a fun night for eveyone. I think Jude enjoyed all the bright lights and, of course, a long nap too!

James wanted to take our picture before heading out.

He loved the chicks!

First ride all by himself!

James was surrounded by the "paparazzi." Notice Stephen on the other side also taking pictures? :)

Trying so hard to win a Despicable Me minion...

Not that I'm sentimental...

Not that I would ever be sentimental or anything...

But this morning when I put Jude in this little outfit for church,

Jude at 3 months old.

I couldn't help but remember this other little cutie that wore the very same outfit what seemed like just yesterday.

James at 4 months old. 

Only it wasn't yesterday. It was over three years ago now.

But I'm not sentimental. Not at all. If that were the case, I clearly would have remembered that James was holding his baby einstein piano in the picture, and I would have had Jude pose with it as well. And if I were sentimental, I certainly would have remembered that James also rolled over for the first time just days before wearing this outfit and taking this picture, just like Jude. But since I'm not sentimental, the timing of this outfit coinciding with the milestone of rolling over for both boys was purely coincidental.

Of course! Because sentimental is clearly what I'm....errrr.....not.

Alright, fine! I admit it. I'm sappy. And I am so very sentimental. And I know I'll probably lose the five blog readers that I have if I keep up this bi-monthly posting of both boys in all the same outfits. I promise I intend to stop somewhere between birth and preschool (but, let's be honest, it will more than likely be much closer to preschool! And by "preschool", I probably mean like 2 days shy of kindergarten. That is technically pre-school, right?)

 But I can't help it. I love noticing their similarities and their differences. I love remembering the past all while I reflect on how far we've come in the present. I love how my heart is filled with joy just by simply looking at pictures of my two precious boys, and when I'm holding them that joy is only multiplied times a billion (squared!). I love that hand-me-downs mean another life and another blessing to love, guide, nurture, and treasure. And I treasure ev-e-ry-thing about life with these boys.

So, thanks for letting me, once again, be sentimental about these two. Because, well, I most certainly am.

Frugal Photos and Rolling Over!

We are taking pictures for the church directory next week, and I thought it would be a great time to get an official/professional picture of Jude at 3 months and possibly of James at 3 1/2 as well (my priority was the 3 month picture only because they change incredibly fast at that age). And then I saw the list of prices...one 8x10 was $25. Yikes! So...plan B was to get the boys on a blanket in our yard and hope for the best. I am pretty happy with what I captured, and I definitely think I got a frame-worthy photo or two of Jude at 3 months. I am a far, far cry from professional and my camera is not fancy, by any means (although I'd love to save up for one to help in photographing my two most favorite subjects), but here is my fabulously-frugal-going-to-have-to-be-official-enough 3 month photo of Jude and a few others that I love as well.

And while we had Jude on his belly, much to our surprise, Jude decided to just go ahead and roll over from front to back for the first time as well. :) James was almost five months old when he rolled over for the first time, but I honestly just think that Jude wants so badly already to do everything that James is doing. Jude has the biggest smiles for Mama and Daddy, but he gets an extra special twinkle in his eye when it comes to James (I promise you!). It's obvious already that he adores James, and there is not greater gift to a mother than that.

So, I think this will be his "official" 3 month picture, but I'll probably just look at them all 843 more times to be sure... ;)
UNashamedly that mom. It's true.

I took these next few of Jude after I was done trying to get that "official" shot so I'm not in love with the background, but I think they are still precious. I love that he was drooling because that captures him so well at this stage. :)

And not to leave out this handsome boy... :)

Just Petty Sin?

In addition to studying the Bible in my own personal quiet time, I love to read and "hear" from other Christians throughout the week. There are so many blogs that both encourage me and help me to recognize areas where I can repent, grow, etc. This blog post, in particular, really hit home and it was just too good not to share.

A few excerpts that stood out to me on sin in our lives that we can view as "petty":

-"When there are choking hazards on the floors of your soul, you can trust your children to find them."

-"What falls off our branches falls directly into their lives. And this is why your petty sin is not petty to your children. It's fundamental."

-"To you they might feel like an understandable mistake, but to your children it's a great sorrow. Your children cannot escape and ignore these things like you do."

Feeling as convicted as I did? You can read the whole post here. 

Jude at 3 Months - The Month of "More"

We are experiencing more of everything with Jude at 3 months. I thought I'd record a few for his baby book:

• More Smiling; (and now he's started laughing) just smiling all the time now! He is just one happy little guy. He laughed for the first time when I told James he looked "like a pilgrim" with a lunchbox on his head, and Jude just burst into laughter. He also laughed and laughed the other day when I said, "Hey, little dumplin!" So, I continued to say it over and over. James thought I was saying "duckling" and started saying "Hey, little duckling" over and over, which made me belly laugh. Needless to say, we were all dying with laughter by the end of it. 
• More moments of wakefulness during the day; still taking brief naps during the day. When we are out and about, he will get a little nap in the ergo carrier, car seat, or in my arms. He will take somewhat of a longer nap in the afternoon when James takes his afternoon nap (maybe around an hour). 
• More lengthy stretches at night, most nights between 6 or 8 hours. After feeding him, he will usually go back to sleep for a few more hours while I hold him in the chair while James is still asleep. I usually just stay awake after that first waking (usually around 5 or 6 am) and have my quiet time, coffee, and just enjoy a little one-on-one time with him. 
• More attentiveness to his surroundings - he is starting to really watch the things going on around him now and tracks really well. He has started to notice the fish tank, the television, and is really enamored with James. He just watches everything his big brother does and smiles at him. I told James last night "He wants to be just like you" and James said "I know you do, buddy, but we're all different. You can't be like me." Ha! Glad he has understands our conversations about each person being special and unique!
• He is drooling more and spitting up more. James started drooling around this time but still didn't cut any teeth for 3 or 4 months after, so I'm expecting the same thing with Jude. He is also starting to spit up a lot more but, as of  right now, it doesn't seem to be hurting him and doesn't smell acidic either (like James' spitting troubles).
• More movement - he's starting to move around a little bit on the floor or play mat and is reaching and grasping for toys; he also reached out one arm for me last week which a Mama always loves
• More fussing but it's still just hardly anything to "write home about." He's generally just an easy-going guy. He fusses mostly about being left in a chair for a minute (while I run to fix lunch or put away clothes) or laid down, especially when he's hungry. 
• More talking and cooing at us. 
• More thumb sucking. If we are ever without a paci and he needs to go to sleep, he has no problem at all finding his thumb. It's sweet. :) James LOVED his paci but never took to his thumb this way. 
• More and more of his own look. There are some moments or pictures that he reminds me so much of James, but, for the most part, he just looks like him. I really see both Stephen and I in him, but it's still fun to hear people say "oh, he looks like Mommy" (our pediatrician, librarian, etc.) when we are out and about, since that rarely happened with James. (Most people thought James looked mostly like Daddy as a baby which is definitely not a bad thing! Handsome boys!)
• More Growth - We went to the doctor about a week and half ago (for a very late 2 month appt.), and they confirmed that he is, indeed, one big boy. He weighed 15 pounds 3 ounces (93%) and was 24 inches long (77%). The nurse said "He's really not fat. He's just big!" And, I guess, that about sums it up. He's not super "roll-y" (although he has some!) but just a solid little guy. (I think he weighs about a pound more than James did at this point.) He is wearing size 2 diapers (until this last pack of disposables is gone) and we moved him into 3 to 6 month clothes last week. He is still nursing about 8-10 times a day. 

But most of all, more and more love...
In the early weeks with Jude it was almost surreal to actually have a second child, but as time passes,  I just feel more and more bonded with him with each passing day. In the beginning, I was so worried about favoritism, giving everyone enough of me, and wanting to love them both well. But as we fall into a rhythm and a new normal, and as I get to know Jude and his own little personality (that is different than his brother) it's easy to love them equally but different. I don't worry as much anymore about if I'm balancing everything just perfectly. I just try to give them both the best that I can in each moment. (I don't know if any of that makes sense). But to sum it all up, we are just so in love with this little guy! I'm thankful every day that I have the privilege of being "Mama" to these precious two.

Happy 3 Months, Sweet Jude! My Jude-y Bear, My Little Squeaks, My Sweet Cheeks...

One day Daddy will force me to stop putting a "y" on the end of yours and your brother's name and I'm sure I won't be allowed to call you "sweet cheeks" when you're playing football or at any other manly event, for that matter. But, for now, I'll just savor these baby days as long as I can (and embrace all those little baby names that just roll off the tongue so easily for a Mama just smitten with her boy...)

Don't we all need someone to love us like that? :)

Jude's first Baby Einstein's experience. He kicked and squealed the whole time!

A Big Boy Day!

James is getting old enough to start helping Daddy with things like yard work and other little projects. We were gifted a little extra money this month and wanted to do a little project, and this one was the most affordable on our list of home updates. James and Stephen spent all day together building a deck and extending our outdoor seating area. They had a great time together, and I'm so thankful that Stephen is teaching our sons valuable skills. It was also a good day for me to focus on Jude one-on-one. I was very impressed with their work, and I wanted to take a moment to brag on my husband. His love language is far different than mine. He will probably never write a poem or love song for me, but he's done so many "acts of service," both large and small, throughout our marriage to show me that he loves me. So, if by some small chance that you're reading this, Stephen, please know that it doesn't go unnoticed. I'm so grateful for the way that you love me. :)

 Here are a few pictures of their special day together (they are all out of order!):

The two little builders finally enjoying the finished project!

The section on the left is the new addition. :) 

James found a froggy friend, "Slinky", while digging and proceeded to torture play with him for several hours in this bucket. :)

They planted an assortment of mums - my favorite fall flower! :)

The ABC's of Us (Part 2)

R is for Roll Tide:

...and my childhood Rocking horse passed down to my boys:

S is for Superman:

...and "Shhhhh!" 

...for the baby brother that's getting So big:

T is for tummy time:

...and tiny tummy :)

...and These Two. :)

As I wake up every morning until the time that our house is finally filled with the sound of ZZZZZZZ's each night, I am right in the middle of the very best days. There is nowhere else I'd rather be. :)