Playdate with Jesus

Our new house has a tin roof. Everyone kept asking "have you slept under it in the rain yet?" It seemed like an odd question but made a mental note to "sleep under it in the rain". I went to get Audrey from her nap yesterday (sidenote:in her big girl bed!) & layed down with her only to discover that the rain was coming down pretty hard. AHHHHHHHH now I get it!!!!
The sound of the rain hitting the roof is the most calming sweet pitterpatter sound. So I say to Audrey, "do you hear the rain? .....it sounds like Jesus is playing the drums on our roof". Audrey decided she wanted to see the rain so we went downstairs to look out the window. We look out the window & as she was standing there I turned to do something (I get distracted easy:) Anyway a few minutes later I hear:

Audrey: drums Jesus
me: Are you playing the drums with Jesus
Audrey: Yeah, Jesus (as she is beating her drums, raising her hands in the air & singing "Jesus")

I walk to the window & look out at the rain only to see the most beautiful, brightest rainbow I have ever seen RIGHT in front of our window (note: it was NOT there 5 seconds ago when I brought her down to "see the rain"). I swear at that moment Jesus himself had come down to play with His child & I would not be surprised at all if she could actually see Him. I was SO overwhelmed with His love for us & could feel the Holy Spirit in our house & all around us! I opened the door so we could go on the porch (and just had the urge to get as close as we could to the rainbow) then ran to get my camera. When I got back the rainbow had dimmed but I was able to catch it as it faded away. I was also able to catch Audrey playing the drums with Jesus!

From the lips of children & infants you have ordained praise Psalms 8:2 (NIV)

See to it that you do not despise (look down on)one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always have access to my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10 (NASB)

Let the little children come & do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

but bring them (children) up in the discipline & instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

On another of my favorite topics....our lil man has started smiling (on purpose)....this pic below isnt great (took with my cell phone) but I couldn't help document one of his first directed smiles.

Also, I'll have you know that we have gotten more serious about the schedule & he is doing great. I am still trying to figure out his "reflux/colic". I'm not convinced that is whats going on (hence the parenthesis). I've tried feeding him ever 2 1/2 hours so that he will take a little less & not spit up but it seems to make him spit up more (he does sleep better at night though bc he gets an extra feeding in during the day). He does better with his spitting up if he eats every 3 hours but then I am getting up to feed him in the middle of the night. I still count my blessings bc he is a really good, sweet baby that I am really only getting up once a night with (at 6 weeks, I think thats pretty good). Anyway, I'm rambling....we love this little man! He is the absolute perfect addition to our family! (and I think he looks like his daddy??:)

Catchup

This week has been fun! We are finally settling in to our "new house" (as Audrey calls it EVERYTIME we pull into the driveway). Life is starting to be more about the family & not all the extras we've had going on (new house, new job, new baby etc). (also, I promise to post on the house soon)

Audrey is napping in her big girl bed for the very first time right now!!! I am trying to transition her so we can put Jude in the crib & get him out of our room/closet (yes our child sleeps in the closet)

Jude slept thru the night again for me this week (1 time). He is no longer in the "newborn" stage since he is focusing on people/voices . I think he is the spitting image of Ryan but after looking back on Audrey's baby pics, I think they look alot alike....you decide for yourself:



Audrey (above) Jude (below)
Jude (above) Audrey (below)

Ok so he is a little darker than her.

I also went back & looked at Audrey's size at this stage. At her 1 month checkup (she was 5 weeks old) she weighed 7lbs 13oz. At his 1 month checkup (he was 5 weeks too) he was 9lbs 1oz!! Whoa he is a strong, growing boy!

More on the house to come....We have really been enjoying our land (the grounds as Ryan calls it:)

Family Pics

Just a few pics of the fam...read the below post...I've had a lot of making up to do since falling off the blogging wagon. Be back soon with more on the new house!

A BIG THANKYOU

I just wanted to say how blessed Ryan & I have been by our family, it's overwhelming!

Thank you Thank you Thank you SO much for all your help getting us into the house.



In one week, they helped Ryan paint our entire house (including ceilings), replace floors in 2 rooms, install a refridgerator, microwave, stove, dishwasher, disposal, hot water heater & bathroom vanity, cleaned & I'm sure SO much more. (Oh yeah & move all our stuff in).



The timing for closing on our house could not have been worse with us having a 2 week old but that is when it happened. We didnt even ask for help....they just knew we were never going to be able to get it all done & showed up!!! They were at the house working even when we couldn't be!



We are so thankful for the bond that we share with each of them & after living away for 2 years are so appreciative to have them in our lives!

1 Month (Almost-10th)

Jude I can't believe you are already a month old! Unfortunately your timing is horrible(you must get it from your daddy:) so your entire life has been kinda crazy. Between your daddy's new job & our move & having a big sissy who wants to do everything for you, it has been anything but boring around here. It has been hard for me to figure you out & try to get you on a good schedule but I think we are making it anyway. Could it be because my attention is just a little bit divided?

I will say that the second time around is definitely a little easier. I worry less, am less strict about "the schedule" & have just enjoyed holding you & looking at you more.

You have been a trooper through it all & we are falling more & more in love with you everyday! You pretty much let Audrey do whatever she wants to you without much of a fuss (get used to it). You are sure to let us know if there is something you dont like (like sleeping in your own bed). You are the spitting image of your daddy down to the faces & expressions you make. I love your little dimples. We are really just enjoying bonding with you & adjusting to life as a family of 4!

I cant wait to see how your little personality shapes & what kind of little boy you are going to be (not to fast though).
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou for sleeping through the night last night (10:30p-6:15a). You may not do it again for awhile but as your first gift to your mommy...I'm very impressed.

I love you sweet angel! I am so blessed to be your mommy!

Happy Birthday 2 You

I cannot believe my little girl is 2 years old! Time is going by tooooooooooooooo fast! It seems like yesterday we were heading to the hospital to meet her (no that was Jude:)

I am so amazed with her everyday...even more so that God trusted me with His precious child!

She is so smart with the most amazing personality that I find myself just watching her & trying to figure out what is going on in her head. Just the other day I was making her breakfast & she was playing at the table, I hear her saying to the cups on the table "3 (cups)...take away 1. TWWOOOOO" I find myself just stopping in the middle of the day to listen/watch her monitor while she is suppose to be napping. She will be telling Layla & GoGo (her doll & hippo) all sorts of things or playing hide & seek with them. I'll hear her say "GoGo-where are you?".... "no"(looking under her pillow, "noooooo" looking under her blankie, "thereis"(there it is) finding GoGo. Or she will put them both on her pillow, cover them with a blankie & put the paci in there mouth.

She touches me each day with her sweet, sharing, giving, kind heart. I love seeing how God has planted seeds in her heart too & I can't wait to see what He has in store for my little girl. If Jude is crying, she will go & lay her hands on him & say a prayer. Or she will kiss him & shhh shh shh him. When she is near him she is (mostly) being loving & sweet or saying "cheeeeese" for us to take a pic of the two of them followed up by "see see see"(she wants to see the pic).

She understands EVERYTHING you say & NEVER forgets anything & I am careful what I say in front of her OR what I promise we can do ("we can walk down to see the horsies AFTER nap") bc then she is reminding me later (me walking in to her room to get her from her crib after nap & as I'm greeting her she is saying "horsies, horsies, horsies").

We put her "big girl bed" in her new room & we lay on it everynight before we get in the crib ( I usually fall asleep). We climb up & get comfy & I usually wrap her up in my arms & pray with her. Last night as we lay down...she wrapped me up in her arms & I just thought to myself...

I need her...just as much as she needs me.

In lieu of a big party, (since Mommy really wasn't up for that this year) we decided to celebrate her birthday "ya ya style" ....meaning that we had a "birthday week" as opposed to a birth-"day". We wanted to make sure her b-d didnt get lost/forgotten with the move/renovations, baby etc so we have just been making a big deal about her all week.

On Tuesday, October 5-which is her actually birthday, we had her grandparents over for dinner & cupcakes. I let Audrey choose her birthday cake this year & when we went to the bakery (no making the cake this year) she kept saying "lil" lil" ....she wanted the little birthday cakes-SO that is what she got!

Yesterday, we sent cookies to school with her & they put a hat on her, sang & made a big fuss too! Tomorrow, her 2 best friends, Ellie & Amelie are coming over to help celebrate again.

We will talk about how she is a big girl now...."2 years old now" we'll say & she will say "Happy Audie" (as in happy birthday to myself-yes:)

Audrey I'm sure you can tell from the post above but I love love love you little girl! I am so proud of who you are & what you are becoming! Daddy & I are always here for you!