6 Month Update in Videos (and a few words of course)

I haven't posted in a while but we have been traveling and without internet for a while. Since I last posted we celebrated my 26th birthday, traveled to South Carolina for James to meet all of my Mom and Dad's family, and took James to the beach for the first time. Now, we are finally back, unpacked, and settled.

I am going to try and be less wordy this post and show you four, yes FOUR, videos of James and what he is doing at 6 months old. I understand that you may not want to watch all four videos unless you are one of the few people in the world that gave birth to us or just really, really love James almost as much as we do. Here is a short list of things that he is doing. I will just add to what he was doing last month:

James is doing everything he was doing at 5 months and...

• He weighs 17 pounds 10 ounces and is 26.5 inches long. It sounds so big but the doctor says that he is just above the 50th percentile for both height and weight.
• Holding out in size 2 diapers for a little bit longer. Wearing some 3-6 month clothes and moving into some 6-9 month clothes.
• He is a blonde headed baby for now (and blue eyed!) with hair sticking straight up now. It is so cute! I also noticed when I was rocking him the other day he has little blonde hairs on his arms, legs, fingers, and toes. I don't know whether to be happy or sad. He is growing up!
• He loves peek-a-boo now and belly laughs at peek-a-boo and other things! (check out the video).
• He is eating solids and seems to like them but is still warming up to them at this point. So far he has had rice cereal and oatmeal. He has also had sweet potatoes and pears (check out the video). He has also learned how to use his sippy cup (yes, see another video). Stephen helped him last night figure it out because he used to just chew on it. 
• (I hesitate to write it down because it's going so much better but) He seems to be sleeping for longer stretches now that he has started solids. Up to 2 hour naps (twice a day with a little cat nap sometimes in the early evening) and a 6 to 7 hour stretch at night before needing to be resettled maybe once or twice. We have found a system that works for us and gets us all the best night's sleep possible. 
• He is trying hard to lunge forward into the crawling position from the sitting position but isn't quite there yet.
• He is wet all the time from drool, teething, the sippy cup, and solids and we are trying very hard to keep his neck folds (and adorable neck folds, I might add) dry! 
• No teeth yet but the doctor said his gums on top and bottom are very swollen.
• He is becoming more active and trying to move all the time. He is a wild man when he gets to bouncing on us or in the exersaucer. 
• Struggling a little with separation anxiety (which I know is a phase) and still struggling with reflux (spitting up solids now)
• Doing better in the car (making improvements). Took his first trip to SC to meet my Mom's family and then we went on to Myrtle Beach with the Lakes Family for the 19th annual trip and James' 1st ever trip to the beach! (see video - ha!)

So, I said I wouldn't be wordy but I guess I still was. I can't help myself. I love him so much it hurts. I know you Moms understand what I mean!

And here are the videos: (it won't hurt my feelings if you don't watch all four! I know I will watch them enough for us all.)

5 Months Old! (Almost 6...)

I need to post a quick update on James' milestones at the 5 month point because in about a week he will be 6 months old! Wow! I can't believe this precious little man has graced our lives for almost half a year. I don't even know what life was like before him. This month really brought about so many changes that we kept asking each other, "Is this the same baby we brought home from the hospital?" He is really at a fun age now and getting more independent all the time.

Here are some of the things that James is doing:

- He is rolling over mostly from his stomach to his back but has also rolled over from back to belly as well.
- He started eating cereal consistently at 5 months old once a day. We can now eat dinner at the table together and he really loves mimicking us eating. He opens his mouth when he sees us do it even if he isn't the one being fed at the time.
- Still putting EVERYTHING in his mouth and I think teeth have to be on the way.
- He is sitting up now! A little wobbly but definitely sitting up!
- He loves reaching for toys and will dive to reach a toy that he wants that is out of his reach.
- He arches his back when we're holding him to get down on the floor when he wants to play.
- He cries if we take a toy away or try to take something that he is putting in his mouth that he shouldn't be.
- He babbles a lot and says "mama" a lot although he doesn't know what he's saying yet.
- His legs are very strong and he is becoming a wild man trying to jump off of us or while in his exersaucer.
- He loves seeing himself in the mirror and loves seeing us smile at him in the mirror.
- He loves watching us brush our teeth and when we carry him into our bathroom he immediately tries to grab a toothbrush to put it in his mouth.
- He smiles and laughs a lot now. He is very ticklish!
- Enjoying books more (chewing on books too)!
- Really smiles at girls and women and then hides his head like he's flirting.
- He has lost almost all the dark hair he was born with and now has blonde hair growing in.
- He still eats quite a bit. I don't even keep track of when he eats anymore - I just feed him on cue.
- He wakes up once a night (at least) to eat but resettles quickly. He wakes up around 7:30 AM now and goes to bed around 8:30 PM. He usually takes a nap around 9:30, 1:30, and a little short nap around 5:30. His first two naps can last up to 2 hours now.
- He is still struggling with reflux but we are praying it will be something that he will grow out of soon.
- He loves his little piano and always tries to reach for it. He can pull all of his toys out of the basket until he gets to the one he wants.
- He has started to show a few signs of separation anxiety - once when my sister was visiting and Megan was in the backseat with him while I drove he cried for me. He also whimpers at times when I walk out of the room. He has started to reach out his hands or dive toward me to get me to pick him up.

When my sister was visiting last weekend while Stephen was a children's camp, we had a lot of fun just talking and hanging out with James. We were talking one morning about the fact that he had a rough night and I didn't get a lot of sleep and she said, "Even when your tired and up in the middle of the night, does it still feel good to look down and be holding him?" And I told her, "Yes, it feels great!" It's so true.  Almost 6 months have already passed in no time and one day I'll look back on this time and wish I could have the sweet moments that we are having together now (even in the middle of the night). He is our biggest blessing and we love him so much!

31 Days of Prayer For Your Husband

I found this on a blog of a friend's friend's friend ... or something like that. :) What a great challenge to pray for your husband in such specific ways each day! I encourage you to pray for your own husband, future husband, sons, or even your daughters' future husbands in this way! I couldn't think of a better gift to give them than to lift them up in prayer! 


Praying for Your Husband

“She does him good….” Proverbs 31:12a
Bless your husband by praying for him!

The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12). Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.

31 Days of Prayer

Day 1Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study,prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)
Day 2Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)
Day 3Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8)
Day 4Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)
Day 5Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to
cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)
Day 6
Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)
Day 7Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov.6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)
Day 8Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray
that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character – persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills,positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58)
Day 9
Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13;Heb. 13:5)
Day 10
Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)
Day 11Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)
Day 12Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)
Day 13Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)
Day 14Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)
Day 15Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov.27:17)
Day 16
Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)
Day 17
Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)
Day 18Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Eph. 5:16; Ps. 90:12)
Day 19Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)
Day 20Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov. 27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)
Day 21Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)
Day 22Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)
Day 23Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)
Day 24Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52; Prov. 13:15)
Day 25Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)
Day 26Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)
Day 27Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of
the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)
Day 28Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)
Day 29Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)
Day 30Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)
Day 31Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and
actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God.
(John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)

Baby Dedication

Now that I have finally learned how to post a video, I thought I would post another one (two in one day!) for you to enjoy.

We had originally planned to participate in the Baby Dedication at our church on Mother's Day, but when the time came we were not able to. So we decided t0 ask Dr. Trader (Dad T), Stephen's mentor and former pastor, if he would perform the dedication of James to the Lord while we were in Alabama for 2 weeks. Dr. Trader also was the one to license Stephen to the ministry and performed our wedding ceremony so it was very special that we had the privilege of having him be the pastor to lead us as parents in dedicating our sweet James.

It was on July 4th which is a special day not only for us as Americans but also as Christians and it was such a sweet dedication. I, of course, cried as I listened to Dr. Trader speak God's promises to James and when Dr. Trader said that God had a special plan for his life, James looked up at him as if he was listening intently. We pray that whatever James does in his life, that he will bring glory to God, we pray that he will feel loved unconditionally, and as we remember the special day that he was dedicated to the Lord, a day that we celebrate freedom in our country, we pray as his parents that he will experience freedom in Christ - freedom from the bondage of sin to live life abundantly as Christ intended!!

I'm glad I could share a little bit of the day with you guys:

Look Who's Rolling Over!

James rolled over for the first time while we were on vacation in Alabama a few weeks ago. I was playing with him in the middle of the king size bed at our hotel (because it wasn't our house and I just didn't know about how clean the floor might be) and had him on his belly for some tummy time when he just rolled right over. It actually caught us by complete surprise because we had put him on his belly many times before hoping he would roll over for us but always stopped just short of doing it. We were so excited (as you can see in the video) that we threw a blanket on the floor, put him on his belly again, and he rolled over two more times

(and we got those on video!!) Stephen was at camp the week before with the youth and I was so afraid he was going to miss it, so I was so thankful that he was there to see it! I thought I would share part of the video with you.

The 21st Time

I was challenged by this song this morning. Lord, help me to be the body today. I've been guilty of "not seeing" too many times!

Our Top Ten

We just got back from spending a few weeks in Birmingham, Alabama. Stephen took the youth to M-Fuge, we had our first family vacation with James, and got to see lots of family! We had lots of time to talk and lots of time traveling in the car which was even longer with Mr. James Man who does NOT love his car seat anymore. So, we talked about all sorts of things while driving and one conversation was about the baby products that we have used most/have been most helpful to us. I thought it would be fun to post a list of our top ten baby products and hopefully it will be helpful to some of you out there that may need these for your own babies or for friends about to have a new baby.

Here are Our Top Ten Baby Products (in no particular order):

1. The Nap Nanny - Here is a link to check it out at http://napnanny.com/ - I cannot tell you how much this has helped our family. James has reflux and his frequent spitting up even while he sleeps woke him up SO often (screaming and crying). We learned quickly that he cannot sleep flat on his back and being elevated in the Nap Nanny has greatly reduced his spitting up while he sleeps. It is a little costly but we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of it. We can also tell you two ways to swaddle and still sleep secured in the Nap Nanny if you are interested.

2. Burp Cloths - I know this isn't a new product but we have used burp cloths SO often and do not go anywhere without them. There is no way to know in advance how much your little one will spit up but ours does frequently and I would encourage every new parent to have some. (We probably have at least 20.) The thicker the absorbency the better!

3. Pack n Play - The Pack n Play is great for traveling and also for placing around the house for your little one to sleep wherever you would like. Before James was born I thought he would always sleep in his room and I would just use the baby monitor, but I had no idea just how much I would want him close to me. James is now five months old and I have to confess that he STILL sleeps in our room. He doesn't sleep through the night yet and we have found that we get more rest if we can get to him more quickly, feed him, and get him back to sleep. I know it's not for everyone and that is okay (parenting is about finding out what is right for you and your baby) but it's the best decision for us. We put his Nap Nanny right inside his pack n play in our room and he is sleeping so well now. Also our Pack n Play came with a newborn napper attachment that he slept in until he literally could not fit in it anymore. It kept him snuggly and elevated. I loved it!

4. White Noise CD - We downloaded white noise sounds off of i-tunes and burned them to a CD. We repeat the same track all night long of a flowing stream. It simulates the womb and helps James sleep better. It helps us sleep better too!! I have to turn it off in the morning or it is impossible to wake up. It is seriously the best 5 bucks we've ever spent!

5. Sleep Sheep - The sleep sheep attaches to our car seat and plays white noise sounds so James can sleep better while on the go! There is a larger one also that attaches to the crib at home but it has to be restarted every 45 minutes so we just stick with the CD on repeat.

6. Summer Swaddle blanket - I highly recommend swaddling and this is a blanket that will keep James swaddled (usually) all night. We have just moved up to the largest size and soon it will be time to wean him out of it, but if you want your baby to sleep longer and feel more secure while they sleep this is one way to do it! One word of advice: just stick with cotton (no fleece) even if your baby is born in the winter. In the south it just never gets cold enough for the fleece. I was/am always afraid of overbundling/overheating James.

7. Moby Wrap/Sling - Our baby loves to be carried and worn during the day in the moby wrap or sling (these are the two that I have but I know there are many more out there). I usually only wear him at most for a few hours (when I'm out and about or busy around the house) but he feels safe, is able to see and experience the world, and also takes some really great naps. He is content in the stroller for a short time but when he is worn is content for hours. This is another product I thought I would only use with James as an infant but discovered that he loves it and there are lots of benefits (even health benefits) for him. He's five months old (and at least 15 pounds) and I still prefer to wear him rather than push him in the stroller.

8. Medela Breastpump - Whether you are staying at home or returning to work, if you plan on breastfeeding I would really recommend having a pump. I thought I would use it for convenience and for bottles on the go but found out there were times I really felt like I needed it. This is the only one I've tried, but it's worked great for me.

9. Sophie the Giraffe Teether - My mother-in-law gave us this at a shower but it wasn't until James started teething that we realized how great this teether actually was! It is easy for a baby to hold because it's slender and just the right shape for chewing on. I know it sounds silly but it really is better than other teethers out there! James always prefers this one.

10. The Baby Book and Happiest Baby on the Block - I have never read more and on a subject that is as dear to me as my baby. There is lots out there and everyone has books that are most helpful to them. These may not work for everyone, but for me these two have been the best. The Happiest Baby on the Block is great for learning to soothe the baby in the earliest weeks and during the colicky period (you need to know the 5 s's because they work!!). The Baby Book by Dr. Sears is hands down my favorite and has been helpful to me now and will continue to be for the first few years of James' life. It has information on all kinds of subjects from sleeping to feeding and has given me the most confidence in feeling comfortable to parent from my heart.

My advice is to find the books that are best for you and that offer the advice that you feel most comfortable with -- but really every decision you make when parenting your baby should be based on your unique, individual baby. There is no perfect formula for being a parent. I put way too much pressure on myself these first few months feeling that if my baby didn't act like most babies, something must be wrong with how I was parenting him. Pray for God's wisdom, parent from your heart, and follow's your little one's cues. Don't feel guilty to do things differently than the other mothers around you. (And don't be judgmental of the way someone else parents...there is truly no "Right" way to do it. Every family situation, parent, and baby is different.)

I hope this list will be helpful to new mothers out there! I would love to hear about products that worked for you or products that may be helpful as James very soon enters the world of eating, crawling, walking...oh my!!