Hodge-podge

I feel like I have a million different blog posts I could do, so I thought I would put them all in one.

Today- I got to go to the zoo with a sweet friend from church- we had a BLAST! This was the first time in a while for Parker to go and Beckham's first time all together. Parker was so into it. We got to feed the giraffes which was the COOLEST thing of all. They usually charge $5 and you get 3 pieces of lettuce...however today they had closed the feeding due to misty cool weather. WELL, due to our sad and pathetic response the guy let us come back and feed them!!!!!! Seriously.....we got to go back for FREE and give the giraffe as many pieces of lettuce!!!!!!!!!!!! MAN, that was SO COOL! Then, we went on a carousel ride and went looking at all of the animals that we could. FUN! I loved spending that time with my boys!!!!

Can you see how EXCITED I AM....I was living in UP!!!

Tonight I had already put my boo bear to bed after a sweet time of rocking him and then Parker and I went in to the living room to watch Polar Express before he went to bed. Lately we have been enjoying our Christmas traditions so much!!! Last night after dinner I bathed the boys, got them in their pj's and then we got in the car and went looking at Christmas lights...Parker was in my lap as we SLOWLY drove around our little section. Parker was having the time of his life and you could just see the JOY on his face and could hear the JOY in his voice!!! Filled me up to the BRIM with JOY getting to have so much FUN with my boys!!!! Anyways, tonight as we watched Polar Express I was just LOVING that quiet time snuggled up next to my Parkerman......just priceless....staring at his little feet that don't reach the end of the couch...SO wonderful.

So what are my boys like now....Beckham, my sweet boo bear is 14 months old and Parker is 2 months shy of 3!!!!

Beckham- went through a SUUUUUUUPER grumpy stage that I just didn't think I was going to survive. However, I feel like he is on his way uphill in that department. I can actually stand up and walk around without him panicking and sometimes...not all of the time...I can go to the restroom without him screaming! ha! BUT, he is sooooooooooooooo STINKIN CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man, that little boy......he is just so cute I could eat him up!!!! He is SO CUTE even when he is wining!!! Anyways- his little face and the way he smiles and walks and laughs....I seriously could just stare at him all day long! He still only has 5 teeth and only says a few words....mama, dada, uh-oh and hi! He runs around like a wild man...he doesn't really like TV....he gets into EVERYTHING...he puts WHOLE toilet paper rolls into the toilet and thinks it's great....he loves playing chase....he loves getting into his big bubba's toddler bed....he squeals with delight when the puppies come out of their kennel into the room...he eats dog food and LOVES-HIS-BATHTIME! He's a picky eater and loves his pacifier. When life is perfect he gets two naps a day- but usually he only gets one with Parker. He's also great at helping clean up toys!

Parker- oh my sweet booger bear. Still my little baby boy. I can't believe he is almost 3- my sweet baby. I still love snuggling with him- as he likes to snuggle too!!! He is talking up a STORM....all the time all day long talking, talking talking....and if I don't respond, he just repeats louder and louder and louder and louder and louder and louder.....until I do :) He loves his little bubba, however, is way to rough still....he is excited about everything in life and always asks me "was that FUN, MOMMY???". Hehehe, it's soooooooooooooooooo cute!!! He LOVES driving his powerwheels and mowing with his bubble mower. He LOVES going to parks and LOVES looking at Christmas lights. He loves to "help mommy" with cooking and....well....anything by getting up on his stool and jumping right in. He is SUPER afraid of the dark and has been going through hard sleep times because of it. He loves to pray before his meals and at bed time and he loves to do Bible study with mommy. He has 4 memory verses Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 6:1 and Psalm 119:10. He is in AWANAS Puggles (I am his teacher) and doing great. He loves to sing and listen to music and he loves to play the guitar. He also loves his Abby Boo....for a while she was sleeping in bed with him to help ease his fears. He loves having sword fights and chasing and being chased around the house.

I pray everyday for my boys- I pray that they grow in wisdom and stature and favor among God and man...I pray that God would produce righteousness and peace through my discipline and I pray that they would know, love and serve our Lord and Savior with all of their hearts!!!!! PRAISE GOD FOR THE GIFT OF RAISING MY BOYS!!!!!!

The looney house...

"Mom, Beckham is driving me CRAZZZZYYY!!!! I think I am going to have to check myself into the looney house". This is the conversation I had with my mom last night. My sweet Beckham...who has stolen my heart...is driving me CRAZY!!! As I sit here typing this I am laughing- because here is a baby that I can't help but to squeal with delight when I see him....and yet I squeal with delight when I put HIM TO BED! LOL....oh that stinky boy. I cannot go from a sitting position to a standing position without him freaking out and crawling over to my legs crying - and holding on to my legs so tight that I can't go anywhere without picking him up! haha, oh this boy. As long as I am sitting with him and either playing with him or watching him play he is happy as a CLAM and CUUUUTE CUUUUUTE CUTE, but if you cross him by leaving a room without him in on the action....whoa doggies....there is a different side of him! ha! Anyways, my mom and I are talking and she is telling me about one of my cousins who has 4 kids...4!!!....and her youngest (whose name is Beckham too by-the-way!!!) is 2 and she has to hold him all of the time too. I suddenly realized...hmmm...this is just life with kids. I need to stop whining about my little high maintenance baby- because I have 2 kids...she has 4!!!! This is just a phase...he will not scream like this forever....he will not need to be held forever....and I need to remember that when I look back on being a mom- I am really only going to remember those precious smiles, and laughs and snuggly times I have with him and not the constant crying and neediness of him. As FRUSTRATED as I get- when I force myself to sit and think about it, it really is precious that he just wants me...and it really does soften my heart that I am his place of comfort!!!! How endearing is THAT?!?! I....his mommy....am where he wants to be....in my arms is his place that he calls home and that really does make me look at it differently. Then this morning I was doing Bible study and over and over again I just kept being brought back to how "giving thanks" is God's prescription for so much in this world. When I am at my looney level with Beckham- I need to stop and give thanks....give thanks that I have two healthy boys...I have a home to sleep in and be comfortable in...I have A GOD that I can trust my life to....and the list gets longer and longer and eventually I can't help but PRAISE GOD and not feel any frustration with anything!!!

Anyways- I adore my boo bear so so much. I would give my life for him- he is my little sunshine....but sometimes....a LOT of times....he makes me CRAAAAAZY....but now, I have a plan...I have the key to let myself out of the looney house and lock it up for life. I am going to be thankful...thankful for anything and everything I can think of- and I am going to trust that this is just a season....I will survive!!! (totally have that song in my head now!)

Love you Boo Bear!!

Things I loved about today...

-I loved letting Parker "ride mommy's back" around the living room after dinner.
-I loved getting to rough house with Beckham for the first time!!
-I loved getting to rock Beckham and sing to him while we stared into each other's eyes until his eyes finally got too heavy to hold open
-I loved getting to excitedly ask Parker if he wanted chocolate cake and him getting just as excited saying YA!!!!!
-I loved it when Beckham brings me a book and wants me to read it to him...yet wants it back after I have only read 2 pages!
-I love it when Beckham brings me the Star Wars lightsaber toy and wants me to open it for him and gets SOOO super excited when I do!
-I loved listening to Parker pray before bed..."Dear God, tanktou my go night-night...eh-eh-eh...tanktou mommy go night night...eh-eh-eh...tanktou bubba go night-night...eh-eh-eh...tanktou mommy daddy go night night....eh-eh-eh....ABEN!!!" and before dinner..."Dear God, tanktou for my pood (food), tanktou for mommy's pood, tanktou for bubba's pood, eh-eh-eh....ABEN!!!!!"
-I loved watching Parker and Beckham pushing their lawn mowers around the front yard....it's SOOOOO cute
-I loved having Parker ask me to rock him tonight and just getting to rock this big almost 3 year old...he's so big and so FUN to get and try and cuddle with in his rocking chair...I LOVE IT
-I love that my boys want to be with me....I love that they would MUCH rather be with me (and daddy too of course) than anyone else...it is really easy to get frustrated when they scream and cry when I leave them with childcare at church or at the gym, etc...but ya know? When they are old and could care less about being with me- I am going to miss these days!!!

I am in the middle of cooking dinner for Blake and I...the boys are in bed....and I had to stop and write this down...my heart is so FULL and I needed to get it out before I forgot! I love this life! :)

Boring post

So, if anyone reads this post, you might just save the time and move on! ha! I was cleaning out a drawer in my kitchen and I found written instructions for a babysitter when Parker was around 2 and Beckham around 4 or 5 months old. It was fun for me to read it, because in just 6 or 7 months so much changes! Anyways, it's boring for anyone but ME to read, so sorry! I just needed to blog it so that when I go back and read I can enjoy remembering their little schedules :)

Parker:
After breakfast- Parker probably won't need to eat. If he stands at the fridge door or the pantry door you can give him goldfish, Nilla wafers, or a nutrigrain bar. (or whatever you see) :) If he asks for "juice"- give him his milk (green sippy with blue lid) or water. If he stands at the counter by the stove asking for something- it's a banana. He won't need a nap- you can do whatever you want. If you want to go outside & Beckham is asleep his baby monitor is on the counter by the bananas- just unplug and it has batteries & you can take it outside with you.

Beckham:
1 hour after he wakes up- he will need a nap. Put him in his swing- buckle the belt around him, give him his pacifier & get the brown blanket out of his crib & let him wrap his arms around it & snuggle his face in it. Turn swing on high- turn his box fan on high & shut door. :)
Eating:
6am- he ate
8-10am- whenever he starts grouching give him a 4 oz. bottle- if he still seams hungry after that give him another half-1 oz.
-then 2-3 hours after his bottle he will need to eat again (I might be home for this feeding)
-I will put frozen milk in the refrigerator freezer on the top shelf- just get what you need and leave the rest frozen.

I don't like this game!

So this morning Parker wanted to play on my bed- so we jumped up there and were playing and then Parker said "My go night-night"- so I said "Ok, mommy will go night-night too!!". So he got cozied up in my bed- I covered him up with my sheets, per his request, and then he got up and turned the radio and light off and got back under the covers and laid down....oh MAN!!! I was hopeful this was for real...as I laid my head down and was feeling a little piece of heaven, I hear, "WAKE-UP!!!" from Parker who had jumped up and turned the light back on and the radio back on....haha...we did this for 2 or 3 rounds....I've decided I DON'T LIKE THAT GAME! hehehe....gotta love that stinky boy!

The small things....

I'm just sitting here, sipping coffee watching my sweet boys play. I had to sit down and write this down, because I am in the moment...I wanted to remember small moments like this as they are sweet memories. They are so fun to watch because Beckham is sitting letting Nika the boxer dog lick his toy and Beckham will lean over and try and look at Nika's face...so intrigued by her and her big ugly face :). It's so fun to sit on the floor with music playing and dancing and singing with our little instruments with them. It's so fun to sit on the couch with Parker arm-to-arm with a toy and having him ask me "Is this fun, Mommy??"...Yes baby....this is so fun, spending time with you and your bubba...being silly and playing. We are doing nothing this morning...just being. It's special- I love it. OH, and before I end- Beckham ate dog poo today....it's a first- had to write it down :)

SWWEEET Moment

Today, I was doing some Bible study while the boys napped and I heard Parker's door open and then little soft foot steps and then I looked to my left and there was my sweet Parkerman standing there looking at me- he looked at me with a tentative look- and when I got a huge excited smile on my face and said "Hiiiii baby!!!!", he got a huge excited smile on his face and came over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist and just huuuuuuuuggggggged me. THAT was such an unexpected WONDERFUL moment as I am usually the one that initiates all the huggin' and kissin' and to have him just come to me and wrap his arms around my waist....OHHHH....it was heaven!!

He's 13 months

It's so funny- I sat down to write about my sweet little Beckham and realized that today he is EXACTLY 13 months! I don't take pictures anymore on his month birthday's or come blog every month, but I accidentally did it on his 13 month birthday! ha! :) Happy birthday boo bear!

We went to the ranch this past weekend and I was just watching my little bubba walk around being SOOOO busy and playing and enjoying this new little world he is in and it hit me that I am letting HIS little life fly by! Parker's life, I cherished every single little itty bitty moment- but since Beckham is the second and life will be 'easier' when he get's older I have been focused on "in a few more months life will be so much easier, etc etc etc." This past weekend I realized that THIS part of his life....THIS VERY PART...13 months is such a sweet innocent PRECIOUS time and I am letting it fly by! When Beckham is older I know without any doubt in my mind, I will miss these tender times of his childhood...that is, if I don't stop and watch and experience life with him. Suddenly it made all of the frustrations of having a 13 month, get into everything he's not supposed to, cry when I leave the room, too little to rough house with Parker but wants to and ends up getting hurt, little Beckham and turned it into pure J-O-Y! This is such a FUN part of a little child's life and I was missing it! When they walk like a mummy and when they LONG for you to spend time with them and when they look to you after doing something they are proud of! It's heaven!

Am I doing the right thing?

Every single day I wake up to be a mommy to my little pieces of heaven is another day that I have to struggle with the battle of self doubting. "Am I doing the right thing??" is what I ask myself every time I make a decision regarding my boys. Is this behavior that I should discipline for or is it just him being a kid, should I say yes or should I say no, should I be silly and goofy should I be serious and firm. You name it, I question it. Lately, the Lord has been speaking to me so much about this area of self doubt. He gave me a verse, Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you". Every time I read that verse it brings such strong emotion to my heart. I have come to the Lord crying out- "Father, what should I do, I don't want to make a mistake, I don't want to 'screw' my children up, I only want to do what is RIGHT and good for my children" and HE came back with "I will instruct....teach...counsel...and watch over you". HE....THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is going to teach, counsel and watch over me!!!! I don't have to rehearse in my mind or predict what my children are going to do and how I am going to handle it....I just have to trust and believe in my heart of hearts that the Almighty GOD is going to HIMSELF step in and teach, counsel and watch over me. Wow, what an amazing God I serve!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT AN AMAZING GOD! Then I was reading Exodus 33 and I came to verse 14 where God tells Moses, who is needing huge guidance to direct him while taking the Israelites to the Promise Land, "...My presence will go with you and I will give you rest". Wow....not only Moses am I going to make sure you get there, but MY PRESENCE will be the one to get you there...not one of my angels, not a really smart man.....ME....the ALMIGHTY GOD OF THE UNIVERSE! It spoke such huge instruction to me-that I no longer have to question what I do or what I will do, but that my GOD will come through when I need Him to.

PRAISE GOD to whom all blessings flow....praise Him all people here below...

Booger Bear & Boo Bear Theiss

My boo bear- a little over a year old and what is he up to?!?!?

-He is waving, clapping and WALKING!
-When playing he will often look back at me after he has accomplished something to make sure I saw....he gets the BIGGEST grin on his face and then turns back to continue.
-He HATES it when we leave the room
-He sleeps around 12 hours at night...goes to bed at 7pm.
-He would LOVE to take 2 naps, but since his big brother goes down at noon, mommy makes him stay up so that they will BOTH go down at the same time
-He just started standing up on his own
-He has 3 teeth fully in and one top that just broke through
-He has been going through a super fussy stage...mad at life! :)
-He loves music and loves to play his little shaking musical instruments
-He says "uh-oh" and then a bunch of other babble stuff- he might have said some other real words, but I can't tell!
-He LOVES his big bubba!
-He still has his pacifier- however, mommy is trying to phase it out
-He is sitting forward in his carseat now
-His favorite food is chicken nuggets (he has become quite the picky eater!)
-He loves outside and loves the swinging at the park
-He does great at riding in the front seat of the powerwheel
-I has QUITE A FIERCE temper....when he doesn't get his way he gets MMMMAAAADDDD!!!!


What's my Booger Bear up to?!?!?! He is a little over 2.5 years old and.......
-He is talking up a STORM! This child talks all day long, "look mommy, watch me, what's that, WHOOOAH," are some of the usual's, but he pretty much talks like a normal person except it might be hard for the normal person to understand him :)
- He LOVES to drive his "big truck". "Drive my big truck, mommy?" is what I hear EVERY-SINGLE-WAKING-HOUR! Literally :) We will be driving in the neighborhood home from Wednesday night church....it is pitch black and 8:30 at night and he will ask to drive his big truck. ha!
-He drives his truck off road to the park...super fun...and I ride my bike to keep up
-He goes to bed anywhere from 7:30-8 and wakes up around 6:30-7
-He has gone through a spell of waking up at night crying....thinking it's bad dreams
-He LOVES his little bubba, however he is entirely too rough with him right now. Pushes him over trying to rough-house and then Beckham gets hurt!
-He loves playing the instruments to music too
-He loves to pee in the grass and I will sometimes catch him trying to in public...oops...bad habit!
-He looooooves Jumpaloozas
-He is starting to get where he is not so shy at "fun" places. At Chuck E. Cheese he gave Chuck the rat a high-five...something he would never have done in the past- he would have screamed!
-He loves his room and his tent...wants everyone to go in his room
-He loves to sit on the couch and watch movies at night. This is when I get snuggle time....LOVE IT!!!


Ok, well, I think this is a good update....lovin' these boys so much I can't stand it!!!! They are SUCH a treasure to me and I am SOOO grateful that God entrusted ME and Blake with them!!!!! HEAVEN!!!

One year ago today....

Beckham,

This time, one year ago, your daddy and I were rushing around getting ready to drive to the hospital to go meet you for the very first time. It was exhilarating and scary all at the same time! Here I was- already a mother to a 20 month old and loving my life with him and just him....I couldn't imagine loving another baby as much as him and then midnight hit and it was October 8th and I heard your scream for the first time. Wow- did my life change. I will be honest- the first few months of your life you were not exactly the dream baby....however, it was amazing how even though you were so grumpy and frustrated all of the time- when you would stare at me, I would fall in love with you all over again. Then- I will never forget. We were sitting in the back seat of my car in the Wal-Mart parking lot and I was feeding you...Parker watching a movie....and you pulled off on your own and smiled at me....oh my goodness, you had me hooked! From then on you officially became my "boo bear". The easiest way for me to get you to smile was to say "boooooo" while changing your diaper. So, boo bear it was. I was even amazed at how high pitched my voice could get when I would see you. You had become the-happiest-baby-on-this-Earth....and your smile was so contagious people couldn't help but laugh when they saw you. Now, today, as I am sitting here on the eve of your 1st birthday, I can't believe it has been one solid year of Beckham! Boo- I love you more than you will ever know and I can't imagine life without you. I can't wait till morning hits and I can go grab you out of your bed and hug and kiss you on your special day. Tomorrow, Boo....it is ALL ABOUT YOU.

I LOVE YOU!!!!
Mommy

Life isn't always a picnic

Today, on my way to the duck pond with my little boys to have our dinner picnic, we passed the elementary school where I saw a little football team playing. It hit me- so often when we have little children it's so easy to think "once they get older life will get easier"...well, I'm not so sure about that now. When kids get older they start getting into sports, music, school, birthday parties, swim team, etc. Moms are running from one place to the next and a picnic at the duck pond for dinner is the last thing on their agenda. It really caught me off guard today. I am in such an innocently sweet period of life with my children. We sat at the duck pond, eating our dinner, experiencing life together. When Parker was done, he got up and was running around pushing his grocery cart and then BEGGED to run across the little bridge they have. What lit up my little boys eyes, was getting to run across the bridge...wow, so preciously sweet. So innocent...
We enjoyed ourselves a little longer and then loaded Parker's grocery cart up with our dinner items and then walked back to the car. On my way back to the house, I thought...I can see myself 8 years from now, life whirling by, driving by the duck pond seeing a mother out there with her little pre-school children and missing so desperately these years. What a JOY FILLED time of life these sweet tender years are; watching my boys experiencing life with such excitement and joy. There is nothing quite as wonderful or amazing. Well, we pulled the car into the garage and I got in the back seat to start getting Beckham out and I just sat there for a second making funny noises with my mouth. Both of my boys were staring deep into my eyes, laughing so hard. They think I am the cat's meow. They think I am so funny and whatever silly thing I do brings so much joy to them. Mmm....will it always be this way? Doubtably. They will grow up and it will be harder for me to make them laugh...I won't always be able to snuggle with them curled up on the couch watching a movie together.

Slow down....watch your children grow....don't wish this time away....cherish each day.

He is 11 months old!!!

My Boo is now 11 months old!!! What does this mean??? It means that next month he will be 1!!!!! Wow, life is getting so much fun! So what is he up to?

-He has 2 teeth in and 1 top tooth about to make it's entrance
-He crawls like crazy, including his crab crawl like the one in the picture
-He stands up on his own and he has tried to take steps by himself, but is unsuccessful. He does well walking while pushing a toy around.
-He takes 1 big nap a day sometimes 2
-He goes to bed at 7 and will wake up usually once around 3-6 and then go back to sleep till 7 or 8.
-He eats real food and doesn't really eat baby food.
-He says, mama, dada, buh buh and uh-oh and sometimes thuh thuh thuh...
-He LOVES it outside
-He likes to be held!!
-He loves electrical outlets and unplugging things and then laughs at me when I tell him NO NO!
-He has a pacifier and typically only uses it when he is going to sleep or tired
-He wears 9 and 12 month clothes...some 6-9 month still too.
-He used to eat everything in sight, but now he is starting to think he has a choice about what he eats!
-He loves his bath time
-He LOVES getting rubbed down with baby lotion!
-He loves door stoppers
-He loves to go down Parker's little slide in the back yard
-He loves reading CERTAIN books
-He is still such a happy boy
This little boy is a piece of sunshine!!! I just want to eat him up every day of my life. I love holding him and snuggling, I love rocking him, I love reading books to him, I love talking to him, I love playing with him. He's my boo bear! Happy 11 months my sweet baby!!!! I love you more than you will ever know!!!!!

Today

Some sweet things I love about my boys, I need to write down so that I don't forget them :)

-One of my favorite things in the world is after I feed Beckham at night, I give him his pacifier and he snuggles up on my chest while I rock him....I looooooove that time....I love snuggling with him.
-Watching Parker help daddy pick up the yard clippings. He was SO proud of himself at how strong he was to carry those big clippings over to their pile. I also, love how Parker loves our little life...he loves sitting out on the drive way...or us sitting out there watching him play. He loves putting his sippy cup in the cup holder spot on our folding chair like a big boy.
-How excited Parker was today to watch me play the flute
-How Beckham gets SO excited to see me, or daddy, or anyone really :) Last night at church, the nursery lady was holding him and I walk up to him and he got so giddy and happy, I just wanted to squuuuuueeeeeze him and kiss him as much as I could!
-I love how when I say "where's mommy, Beckham?" he looks right at me.
-I love how you can call Beckham and he will crawl so excitedly to you
-I love how when we tell Parker something and we say "ok?" at the end of our statement...he will say "yes mommy".....it's SOOO cute
-He was SOOOO precious today...just so obedient and so good; it made me SO proud of him. I know he will have his rebellious days and I know he will have his days where he is terrible, but man...today- I will cherish :)
-I love how I bought Parker a new sippy cup today and he was SO excited about it...so proud of it and loved drinking out of it.
-I love how enamored Parker is with me right now. He wants my attention all of the time, "look mommy!!!", "Mommy, what's that?", "Mommy, look at me!", "Mommy, I did it!", "Mommy, play in my room?", "Mommy, jump on your bed?", "Mommy, I get my stool (to help me cook)". "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!!".....I just LOVE that he loves being around me and spending time with me and showing me things and wanting me to watch him and be amazed by him. :)

OK, well, that's enough for today. It was a great day. I just love my boys soooo much.

he thinks I'm a failure....but does HE?

Everyday I wake up I look at myself...I pull my big girl panties up and I start my day excited to spend it with my little sunshines. I think it's apparent that I LOVE being a mommy, I LOVE time with my little family and I cherish the moments not wanting to lose this precious sweet time. However, everyday, there is this inner voice...he points out everything I do wrong as a mommy. He points out when I lose my temper or when I am frustrated with my boys, or when I am not the housewife I know my husband wants....he points out that I am a failure as a mommy and reminds me of every fault at the end of the day. Cathy, you lost your temper, you didn't read books to Beckham, you didn't spend enough quality time with Parker, you are selfish, you didn't pick up the house the way Blake wants it, you didn't make life fun today for your kids and you might as well give up trying to be a good wife or mother because it won't happen...you are too much of a failure. That is what I listen to a LOT and recently I have realized that is what Satan is telling me...he wants me to think I am a failure....but HE, my heavenly Father, DOESN'T! The Bible tells me in Philippians 4:8 that whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything WORTHY OF PRAISE, think about these things. The Bible also tells me that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. He, Satan, wants to destroy me...he wants me defeated and he wants me to give up...WHY? Because I am the very one that spends one-on-one time with my children...my boys...everyday- teaching them about Jesus and what it is to live a life of freedom and joy and power...and teaching them to live on mission! So how can my boys learn to love Jesus with all of there hearts and how can they learn to live in freedom and on mission if their mommy has been in bondage and defeat all of their life. Satan wants my joy stolen, he wants my excitement in raising my boys to be killed and the very way he can achieve that is by attacking my view of myself as a mother. If I feel like a failure every day- I am going to start truly believing that and then start living in failure. When I mess up...when I lose my cool or when I am not acting like "super mom"- it doesn't mean that I have failed as a mother- it doesn't mean that my children will be screwed up because of the times I fail them. I WILL FAIL- it's going to happen- but what I need to be FOCUSED on is what to do AFTER I fail...do I wallow in it, or do I get back up- confess my sin to my heavenly Father...know that HE has FORGIVEN me, know that I am no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1), claim it and then turn around and live in victory! I am NEW again...when I feel like a failure I cannot enjoy my boys the way I do when I am living a spirit filled life...a life of victory and joy- and I can ONLY gain that when I have my focus on the Lord and HIS POWER!!!!
Satan may think I am a failure....but I know HE, my heavenly FATHER does NOT, and I know that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM and I PRAISE GOD that I have His Spirit in me. It's a CONSTANT battle...the Bible tells me that it will be a constant battle. I know that I will need to remind myself DAILY of this, but that's how God WANTS it. He wants me to have to come to Him DAILY to be reminded of the power I have to live in Him and I hope that I will never be at a place in life where I don't need my daily drink of the living water to survive.

Praise be to God....thank you Father for helping me express my heart in this journal- thank you that I now have a written piece of my heart that I can come back to and remind myself of and most of all THANK YOU that no matter what Satan throws at me...you have power and dominion over all rulers and authorities in this world!

He said I was pretty....

I hope I never forget the times where my sweet Parkerman caresses my hair and says "Mommy's pretty"......every time he does that my heart MELTS!

My boo bear is 10 months!!

I can hardly believe that Beckham Cole is already 10 months!!! Oh my goodness...he is SUCH A JOY to my HEART! Beckham is my baby...because as an infant I was the one who held him ALL-OF-THE-TIME and I am the one who primarily holds him now, you can tell that he is one heck of a momma's boy, and I LOVE it!! :) So, here we go...what is my great big 10 month old up to these days?

1. He has ONE tooth!
2. He is eating on his own a lot of things like...
-grilled cheese cut up
-scrambled eggs
-Cheerios
-black beans
-chicken nuggets cut up
-gold fish
-crackers
3. He still only says "ma ma ma ma" or "bu bu bu bu bu"
4. He crawls with one knee and the other foot pushing him along
5. He LOVES bath time. He rolls around and stands up and sits down and stands up and sits down.
6. He loves the swimming pool. He will stick his face IN the water and blow bubbles
7. He thinks EVERYTHING is funny. He smiles, open mouthed, all of the time!!
8. He goes to bed at 7pm, and wakes up anywhere from 7-8 (sometimes he sleeps that straight through and sometimes he gets up once during the night)
9. He cruises around and has tried to take a step hands free, but "eats it".
10. I LOVE reading books with him and rocking him
11. I LOVE when he wakes up in the morning and getting to go in and pick him up and love on him first thing.
12. I LOVE when he was gone with Blake for a few hours and when I saw him I was SO happy to see him, realizing I had MISSED him so so much!
13. I LOVE how he longs for me to hold him when he is grouchy
14. I LOVE when I tickle him and he LAUGHS LAUGHS LAUGHS
15. I LOVE how when I am holding him on my hip, he will lean over and try and look at my face...it's sooo cute!

I LOVE you boo bear...more than you will ever know!!! Happy 10 month birthday!!!!

Love,
Mommy :)

A good reminder

Lately Parker has become more of a challenge- and I don't want that to sound negative like he is a "terrible two" or that he is a bad child....because that is not the case at all...however, because he is growing older and getting more of a will and realizing that he has choices he can make instead of just doing what mommy says- I have to devote more attention to making sure I raise him the way God would have me raise him. So that entails more discipline and stopping to address things and "reasoning" with my 2.5 year old and as any mom could identify that can wear on someone. So tonight I caught a glimpse of a blog posting I wrote last year titled "all he wanted was my attention" and that immediately struck a cord. It reminded me that no matter how much work I have to put into my children each day- this is only a brief period of my life....BRIEF....these sweet innocent, precious days with my little boys that love me so much and want to be with me all day everyday. Today, I was having lunch with a friend and she mentioned what would I do when my boys started to date....as I was thinking about it, I looked over at my sweet Beckham who was just gazing at me with lovey eyes...I thought....what am I going to do???? What am I going to do when my boys don't want to sit arm-to-arm on the couch with me- and what am I going to do when we go to a strange place and they don't want me to hold them or let them sit in my lap until they realize everything is OK. What am I going to do when Parker doesn't want me to come play in his room with him every day or play blocks with him....what am I going to do when I can't rock my boys to sleep or read them fun childrens books or sing to them to calm them down. What am I going to do when I can't play the "I love YOU more" game with Parker (and Beckham too:)). What am I going to do when my boys are men, and I am no longer "mommy", but "mom"????? That is a hard pill to swallow, and it VERY quickly brought my head back down to seeing the beauty of where we are at, no matter what the journey, no matter how testing your kids are and no matter how exhausted you are at the end of the day.....we must cherish, cherish, cherish, because one day, we will look back at these times and only think of the sweet, tender precious times. It's time to re-focus and re-center my way of thinking so that I can enjoy these times with my boys, yet still be ready to move on.

So, that was a GOOD reminder

As I sit here thinking....

Tonight, as I sit here thinking I am coming up with so many things that I love about the stages my boys are in...here are a few :) I feel so bad because I have so many more for Parker than for Beckham...but I have to realize that Parker is taking off in development, so he is going to have a lot more to talk about!

1. At bathtime- both boys take a bath together- Beckham is a wild man in the bathtub- he is rolling around on his belly to sitting to standing then he falls back down to sitting and SPLASHES! However, the cutest part is when I get the bath book out and the MINUTE I open the first page and start reading he gets the BIGGEST, HUGEST grin on his face and then stands up and watches while I read. SOO SOOOOOO cute!
2. I recently put a light switch extender on Parker's light switch...tonight when I came home from eating frozen yogurt with a friend, I happened to look over at Parker's room and his light was on...he was sound asleep...with his light ON! Hilarious!!!
3. Beckham's crawl- he crawls on one knee and pushes with his other foot.
4. When Parker points at something and says "What's that?????"
5. Parker is in a stage now where he has to have all of the doors shut...so I will walk around the corner and the laundry room door is closed, his bedroom door is closed, Beckham's bedroom door is closed and the bathroom door is closed. ha! So cute :)
6. We went to go check the mail tonight, and Parker, with his grocery cart :), was standing at the edge of the driveway and he looked up and yelled "BOON!!" for the moon...so cute!
7. Tonight when watching a movie with Parker before his bedtime, I looked down at his little feet that don't reach the edge of the couch...it was so sweet and I know that one day those feet will hang off the edge of the couch :( CHERISH the moments!
8. Parker asked me to sit next to him on the couch today when he was eating lunch and watching cartoons. MELT my heart! Ok, baby, I will sit next to you :)
9. When I ask Parker to say his Bible memory verse Psalm 119:10 and he will immediately say "With my WHOLE heart, I have sought GOD!!!!!" it and then get SOOO excited afterwards when Blake and I start cheering for him!
10. Parker LOVES the vacuum..I will come around the corner and he will have the vacuum out and be playing with it.
11. Today I said "Oh, my GOODNESS" and Parker repeated it word-for-word. Yikes! Better watch what I'm saying!
12. When we were in the Wal-Mart check-out, Parker had to put his Twizzlers on the conveyor belt...he laid them down and said "Bye Twizzlers" and then blew them a kiss! :)
13. He LOVES Icees!! Anytime we want to treat him to something, and Icee will do the trick.
So many sweet memories...I can't remember them all- but I LOVE them all!
14. When Parker gets excited about something he will say "loooook mommy!!!!!!" and then his eyes will be WIDE OPEN along with his mouth WIDE OPEN! So I will in turn say "WHOOOOAAAA!!!" and have my mouth WIDE OPEN and we will stand in awe....even if it's the fact that he turned his flash light on and hung it up in his tent by himself :)
15. Parker will ask me "what's that?" and when I tell him he will say "oh!"....in a way that is PRECIOUS!
16. Parker calls oatmeal "beeber"....so when Blake makes oatmeal, he will say "Daddy have beeber???", and Blake will say yes and Parker will say "myyy beeeberrrr toooooooo", asking for his own oatmeal. :)

Parker, the man!

Ok- well, Parker is officially 2 and a HALF! He is turning into SUCH a little boy and it thrills my heart and makes me sad all at the same time! So here is what he is up to!

-He told me the other day I was pretty....yep....I almost cried....that was the BEST!
-Every time he accidentally hits me and I say "ouchy, you hurt mommy", he will say "oh, sorry mommy"....("oh, sawdry mommy" is really what it sounds like :))
-When we were at the park today, he wanted me to climb up the rope ladder...so as I was climbing up to the top he said "good job, mommy"!
-After he says I love you, I will tell him "I love YOU more" and point at his chest...he will then point at my chest and say "I duv YOU moe" and we go back and forth...it's the best :)
-He loves asking me to cry..."mommy cry"...so I act like I am crying and he thinks it's hilarious...so then I say "are you going to give mommy hugs since I am crying?" and he says "ya!" and comes to give me hugs
-He is ALWAYS hungry..."my drundry, mommy"
-He tells me "my chaird", which is "I'm scared"- when it's dark, and he will cling to me. It's SUCH a wonderful feeling that he finds safety and comfort in me as his mommy
-He LOVES his little bubba
-He is learning how to be a gentleman by always opening my door and giving me his seat
-He'll say, "I'll be right back" and point at me exactly the way I point at him and say the same thing
-He LOVES his room...every time someone comes over he says "My room?" or if it's just Beckham and I, he will say "my room, Mommy? Mommy, bubba my room???" and he says it with SUCH excitement and hope that it really will happen!
-We are practicing "yes ma'am", and "no ma'am" and yes please and no thank-you.
-When I change his diaper I always say..."don't kick mommy...that hurts mommy", he would always say "hurrrrt mommy", "I kick this way!" and then kick in the opposite direction. :)
-We pray together....I ask him who or what he wants to pray for and he will tell me names. We also talk about what/who we want to thank God for...it's so special, getting to spend time talking about the Lord with him!!
-He loves coffee!!!! YIPPEE!!
-He loves going through the car wash...asks for it every time we drive by it.
-I will call for him in the house "Parrrkeerrrr" and he will yell back "YA???" hehe :)
-He loves to drive Beckham in the back of his truck

Ohhh...this boy....he is one of my life thrills. I love everything about him. It's such a joy to be his mommy. I love watching him everyday become more and more of a little boy. I LOVE getting to have little conversations with him since now I can understand him and he understands me. I love my roll. And even though there are days when I get SO frustrated with his "two's", I wouldn't trade them FOR THE WORLD...I wouldn't give up this life for anything! I love it!

He's 9 months!!!

My sweet boo bear is 9 months old today. I can't believe it- I can't believe the little baby I just had yesterday has been alive for 9 MONTHS!!! However, even though it seems like yesterday he was born- it seems like he has always been a part of my life...I can't imagine life without him. That stinky little boy! :)

So- what has my big 9 month old been up to the past month?

-He now babbles bubububububu and mamamamamama
-He army crawls better than any military person I know
-He pulls up on anything he can find and I will even find him climbing things!
-He loves to pat, pat, pat
-He has NO TEETH!
-He LOOOOOOOOOOVES his big bubba...in his eyes, his big bubba does no wrong
-So far- he is an outstanding eater...he will eat onions, garlic, butternut squash....he eats or at least TRIES whatever I put in front of him
-We had to lower his crib to the lowest setting so that the little stinker can't crawl out of bed
-He, like his big bubba, loves to watch daddy mow and do yard work
-He loves to swing
-He loves to spit his food back out at mommy
-He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy!
-He takes two naps a day- 1-2hrs each
-He LOVES water- at the pool his will stick his face in the water and blow bubbles!
-I LOVE being my boo bear's mommy!!!!!!!! It's one of life's greatest joys!!!!!!

Beckham, you are my little sunshine....I love you more than words or actions could describe!!!! I look forward to the next 9 months and MORE of your life!!!!

The daddy of the mommy

To my dad....

Dad- never a day goes by that I don't doubt that you love me with all your heart.
Dad- your kind spirit towards us kids is comforting
Dad- thank you for working so hard to give us kids a wonderful childhood
Dad- I always feel like I can come talk to you about anything and you will quietly listen so non-judgmentally and lovingly
Dad- I have always admired you for your wisdom
Dad- I love listening to you and being taught by you about Biblical stuff that you have learned and taught
Dad- I love listening to you play the guitar
Dad- I love the way you treat mom
Dad- I love the way you treat mimi and papa
Dad- I will always cherish memories of you making Jimmy and I laugh as kids
Dad- I love watching you be such an amazing Poe Poe to my children....
Dad- I love the memories of riding go-carts with you and having so much fun roller blading, playing tennis and swimming...and stealing sips of your orange juice in the morning :)
Dad- I love how when we were teenagers and when we got in trouble or did something wrong- you would talk it over with us and work through it instead of over-reacting and punishing us
Dad- I love remembering our funny phrases like "uhhh" and "if the alarm goes off the toilet will overflow" and "will there be roaches in my bed?"
Dad- I love how you get excited to spend time with me and my little family

Dad- you are such a wonderful dad, and I appreciate who you are as a man, father, and a poe poe....I hope that this Father's day you feel honored and loved.

I love you!

Parker Forrest update

Parker is now almost 2.5 and is cracking me UP!!! He is so funny and his personality amazes me everyday!! Man, is this fun! So...what are the cute things I love so much about him?

-Today, Parker and I were in the living room and daddy came around the corner said hi and then walked around the other corner to go to the laundery room...Parker looked at me and wispered "hide my room"...I said "ok go hide in your room"...he said "truck hide in my room too"...I said "ok- hide your truck in your room too". It was SOOO hilarious...because Blake always hides in Parker's room to scare him and now Parker was ready to get daddy back!
-When he hides all of his cars under his big 18 wheeler truck
-Sitting with me on the couch drinking my coffee with me
-When he puts his toy phone to his ear and will have a whole conversation to me or blake..."hi mommy...lsddfjaslfjsljfsadjfjldjasldfj" and "hi daddy....a;lsdjkf;alskjdf;lskjdf;alskjdfalskjdf;l" :)
-At night, to avoid going to bed he will ask me to rock him "mommy rock"....ok...I'll take it!!! :)
-When you ask him where daddy is he will say "daddy work"
-He will tell me "bye bye" and I will ask him where he is going and he will say "work".
-When using the potty he will say "BIG POO POO!!" and then start clapping! He will also say "bye bye poo poo" when he flushes it
-You ask him who Beckham is and he will say "bubba"...you can ask him who he is and he will say "BIG bubba" and Beckham is "little (said in a high pitch voice) bubba"
-When driving his truck outside he will drive it onto the grass and go get Blake's car washing stuff...he will hand me a scrub brush and put me to work. "Here you go, mommy"
-Says "night-night" and "love you" when I tuck him into bed..he will even say "I love you more" when I say that to him...it's the best...we go back and forth :) It's the best!!!!!
-When I sing "where is mommy" to Beckham...Parker still comes running to find me! :)
-The other day when Parker woke up from his nap, I went in to get him some underwear and cloths and realized he had put his clothes away that were laying on his chair...SOOOOO cute!
-He will sit in the rocking chair and rock his baby..whether its the donkey or his teddy bear, etc.
-He says "my room, mommy"- wanting me to come play with him and then he will shut the door after me. He will say "my room" to whoever he wants to come play with him.
-When he pats his bed and wants me to lay next to him
-When we are getting ready to go to the pool...he will get SOOO excited and tell everyone "mommy swim suit on??" and go down the roll with bubba and daddy. He will say it over and over again....SOOO cute!!

He is SO much fun and I am LOVING being his mommy...he makes me laugh and is like my little buddy that we play and talk and have fun together!!

He is 8 months!!!!

Ohhhh boo bear....my little bubba, my sinky boy, my tooty toot, my booty bear my sweet baby Beckham. You are 8 months today and oh how you have brought so much joy, bliss, love and laughter to our family. You smile non-stop, you make me laugh, you make my heart sing- everyday I get to wake up and be your mommy I am overjoyed. I love you more than my heart ever dreamed that I would or could!
I love....
how you started saying "bu-bu-bu-bu-bu"
how you put your pacifier in upside down
how you get SO excited when I see you and start talking to you
how you scoot around on the floor faster than I can say stop!!
how you love it when I hold you
how you scoot over to my lap when I am sitting on the floor
how you eat whatever I put in your mouth!!
how you look at me
rocking you and you snuggling with me
making you laugh
you making me laugh
how you adore your big bubba
how easy going you are
how you smile ALL OF THE TIME!!! And a BIG CHEESY smile too!
that you are still toothless!!

I love you more than you will ever know....8 months God has blessed me with you....looking forward to being your mommy as long as God will bless me with the job!!!!!!!

I love you boo!!!!!!

Going to bed...

Tonight during our bedtime routine, I was finished reading books to Parker- so I asked him my usual questions..."do you want mommy to rock you?" and he said "ya...mommy rock"- so that is what we did. After we prayed, I said, "give mommy kisses"- well, he is in a phase where he will cover his mouth up with his hands...so I pulled his hands away and gave him a big kiss-a-roo! He thought that was HILARIOUS...so we did that over and over again and he laughed SO HARD that he got the hickups. I am not kidding...it was the BEST! Then, when I think it can't get any better- I asked him if he wanted me to sing to him...he said yes, so I asked him what he wanted me to sing and in his own little language he said "I'll love you forever"....my FAVORITE song...so as I started to sing it, he sang it with me...heaven!! Then I said, "sing to mommy I"ll love you forever"...and so he started singing it...given...I couldn't understand all the words, but oh how sweet it was to hear my sweet 2 year old....hanging on to my neck while I rocked him...singing to me "I'll love you forever". Then as I tucked him into bed, he asked me to lay next to him...so I did, and then when it was time for me to leave, I got face to face and whispered "love you" and he whispered back "love you" and I whispered "night night" and he whispered "night night". Every part of tonight was so special and filled my cup to the brim. When I shut Parker's door tonight, I put my hand to my chest and took a sigh....a sigh of utter bliss......

At the Park on a hot summer day....

Just got home from a park adventure on a seriously hot summer day. Boys are asleep in their bed and this mommy has some time to reflect :)

It is so amazing to me how some of the fun things that I would do just to be creative stuck in Parker's mind. He remembers how when we find a really cool stick, we go to a certain spot and sit down and draw in the dirt with them. He remembers how when he goes in the tunnel I am supposed to try and grab him through the holes on the outside, he remembers how when I stick him in the swing he wants to go "HIGH", he remembers the spot that we would always run through the leaves, he remembers how when we go sit in the little play house we act like he is fixing dinner and he puts sticks and leaves on the table for me to eat...but not so fast...he will wipe the table clean before mommy can eat and he thinks it's SOOOO FUNNY. And he remembers how when we are done playing at the park, we like to go over to the fountain that's a good walk away and throw rocks in the fountain. We have a little park routine and it is so amazing to me how at not even 2 1/2 he knows what we do. It fills me up when I see him so much enjoy little "tricks" for fun that I do and adopt them as his own. Wow...what a treasure to see my traits become his. I love it!

What I love about being a mommy....

Lately, I have had "moments" with my children that I simply LOVE...I need to write them down, so that I will never forget what little things I love everyday about being a mommy...
-Going in to get Beckham out of his bed when he wakes up in the morning...he is happy and grinning from ear to ear and absolutely giddy when I say hi to him...he smiles and squirms around with excitement.
-After bath-time, spending time with my boys in their PJs in my room....Beckham scooting around on the floor and Parker "playing" the guitar singing Jesus Loves Me. Parker will go play with Beckham, rolling him around on the floor- laughing...both of them- laughing and loving each other.
-Rocking my sweet little Beckham...sometimes he is quiet and still in my arms, sometimes he is squirming around, but either way, just holding him in my arms and looking at him and staring into his eyes.
-The occasions that I have to wake Beckham up from his nap- watching him sleep first, so peaceful and precious...then when I pick him up- he is still so tired and groggy...snuggling with me :)
-When it's time for Parker to go to bed, I love that he wants me to read him books, I love that he WANTS me to rock him and snuggle with him before he gets in bed.
-I love that I can now talk to Parker and have little conversations with him...it's so fun
-I love having fun with my kids...going to the pool, having adventures, doing fun activities....I love living life with them.
-I love it when Parker wants me to do something with me, he will get behind me and push me and say "go mommy"....I love that he wants me to play with him.
-I love watching my boys love each other. Tonight I told Parker to tell Beckham good night...he said "night night, Bubba, love you" and then blew him a kiss
-I love that Parker calls Beckham "bubba"
-I love making my boys laugh
-I love sitting at the dinner table with them
-I love hearing Parker talk using real words
-I love watching Beckham learn how to scoot around the floor- he is so fast and so determined. It's the cutest thing!!!
-I love singing to my boys "I'll love you forever"- and I love that Parker will occasionally sing along with me
-I love when Parker wants us to come play in his room and when Beckham and I get in there he shuts the door
-I love that no matter what's going on- Beckham will always look and find me
-I love staring at Beckham asleep on my video monitor
-Baby breath...I know...sounds gross, but it's the sweetest smell on earth!!
-I love kissing my babies....kissing those chubby little cheeks!!!
-I love rocking Beckham after his 4am feeding...asleep in my arms
-I love that no matter how much Parker has "tested" me throughout the day- when he is in my arms and I am rocking him before bed all of the day's frustrations melt away

Oh- I love being these boys' mommy!!!!!!

My testimony...

Currently I am going through a Colossians Bible study. One of my assignments was to write my testimony. So- being a goody too shoes all my life I sat down and prayed that God would show me what my testimony was and help me write one. Well, He did and here is what HE wrote......

When asked to give my testimony my usual response is, “I don’t have a testimony- I was saved very young and a goody too shoes all of my life”. I can’t tell you that I used to be addicted to drugs or that I had a near death experience or that I hated Christians and then converted to one….nope- all I can say is that when I was around 7 I gave my life to Jesus and have been serving Him ever since. However, as I have gotten older I am realizing that I do have a testimony- I have a testimony that tells people that even when you have been saved all of your life and been serving Jesus all of your life- you can still live a life filled with bondage and fear. That was and sometimes still is me.

Fear of everything….fear of sickness, fear of people, fear of God (in a bad way), fear of bugs, fear of the future…fear fear fear is what enveloped my life for so long. There were times when I would live in so much fear that depression would over whelm me. Here I was- everything going perfectly in my life- but scared that the “other shoe would drop” and all would go away and I would be devastated. So I couldn’t enjoy what God was doing in my life, because I was too fearful of what he might do to “teach me a life lesson” or discipline me.

It wasn’t until about 1-2 years ago that I realized how much bondage defined my life. I still struggle with it to this day- but God has taught me SO much about Him and my relationship with HIM! I realized that in order for this bondage to be broken I must spend quality time with him every-single-day or the freeing agent for bondage….the Spirit of God- has no power to work. I realized that I could truly believe that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”. I realized that I didn’t have to feel and act the way I had been acting. I didn’t have to be fearful- I didn’t have to be frustrated, I could actually have a different response to things through the Spirit- and it was just that easy…I could make a conscious decision to ACT DIFFERENTLY, because the Spirit of the Lord lives inside of me. I often times will wake up at 5:30 in the morning…now..I am one who believes that no one should be awake and functioning at 5:30 in the morning- however, when I wake up and can’t go back to sleep…for no reason…I realized that was God- gently waking me, telling me He has something for me to hear. It’s amazing the times that when I actually listen to God, and meet with Him when He asks me to- how intimate the time I have with Him is. He may not solve my problems, He may not give me an answer- but I know He has been with me and I know He has HEARD me and I know we had a moment…just me and God developing a relationship between daughter and Father. It’s amazing. It’s life giving, it’s freeing, it’s unexplained. All my life of a personal relationship with Jesus and I am JUST NOW seeing how freeing He is, how He truly is the living water…a continuous flow of life through me. “I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me….makes the lame to walk, and the blind to see- opens prison doors sets the captives free…I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me!”

Boo Bear is 7 months

Today is Mother's Day- and as an added bonus my boo bear turns 7 months!!! So what is my sweet baby Beckham up to these days?? Let's discuss all of the little things I wuv about my boo bear!

-When I sing my little "Where is Mommy" song (Where is thumbkin toon)- no matter what he is looking at or where he is looking his eyes will always find mine and he will have the biggest hugest smile!! I also sang this song to Parker to get him to start looking for me and now as I sing it to Beckham, no matter where Parker is in the house he will come RUNNING in and yell at me with a big huge smile!!! It's the best!
-NO matter what- this child, when he looks at me he will smile!
-When I walk up to him- he is starting to reach up for me to pick him up
-He is starting to pat things
-When someone else is holding him and I am in the room- he will stare at me.......it's the most endearing most precious thing, because I KNOW that will not last forever!
-After I feed him- if I just hold him and rock him laying on my chest- he will look up at me and just stare into my eyes....I LOOOOVE that....the most sweet precious moments!
-Beckham is one active dude....he is squirming and wiggling and rolling and constantly wanting to move- so when I get my quiet moments where he just sleeps in my arms- like at 4am when I feed him- it fills my heart up...even though I am exhausted at 4am- I find myself just holding him and rocking even when I could go ahead and put him down and go back to sleep.
-Last night- he was really fussy at bedtime- so I went in and got him and then rocked him- he actually let me rock him to sleep and I got to just hold him and stare at him...loving this baby so soooo much.
-He is eating food now- mainly apple sauce, mashed up bananas and oatmeal with almond milk. He's really eating that well.
-He LOVES his big bubba....everything Parker does is funny to him....it's SOOO cute!

Ok- well, that is my boo bear! Such a funny, happy little baby boy and one that this mommy loves loves loves!!!

The mommy of the mommy....

As a mother- I daily reflect on my childhood as things happen with my children- I daily think, how would my mom have handled this situation and how did I feel as a child when certain things happened.
So as mother's day is upon us, I began reflecting on my mom- and as I sit here tonight, writing about her- it brings such a warm flood of memories into my heart.
My mom- (and I refer to her in past tense, not because she is dead- because she is fully alive, but in reference to my childhood)- was such a tender soul. Strong disciplinarian- STRONG- stronger than I am- however, the only memories I have reference her as a quiet, gentle, SAFE mother that did nothing but comfort, love and care for us. I was a "doosy" of a child- I not only required WAY more discipline than my brother, but I also was so attached to my mom that she could hardly go to the restroom without me being in her business....in fact- I KNOW that she could NOT go to the restroom without me being in her business! I have memories of following my mom to the bathroom and talking to her while she was using the restroom, and of course, my mom the gentle soul that she was would lovingly respond and interact with me no matter where she was or what she was doing. I never once felt like I was bothering my mom- I felt the opposite- I felt like she wanted me to following her around the house talking non-stop about whatever life topics I needed to discuss.
My mom didn't really like to shop, do arts and crafts, ride loopy rides at Astro World, and didn't have a fondness for jewelry...I LOVED to shop, LOVED to do arts and crafts, LOVED rides at Astroworld, and LOVED jewelry! So, what did my mom do? She did all of the above. We would do all kinds of things together (things that I liked to do) even though it wasn't her "thing"- she would do them so that it would make me happy. She would take me, Jimmy, & Neil (our neighbor and might as well have been her adopted son) to Astroworld every Thursday during the Summer- we didn't miss a week- and Jimmy & Neil would go off and do their own thing- and mom and I would go ride the rides together....we would have so much fun- just she and I.....she was my best friend. As I write that, tears well up in my eyes- now, as I am a mother and look back on my childhood, I see the sacrifice that my mom gave every-single-day of her life for us kids. I see how she never once made me or my brother feel like we were a burden or that we made her sacrifice her desires so that we could have a wonderful life.
My mom gave me the gift of prayer. From as far as I can remember- my mom and I would pray about EVERYTHING! When my mom would spend too much money- she and I would sit on the couch and pray that dad wouldn't be upset...haha- (dad- don't take that wrong- it's because of your frugality that we had the life we did....love you! :)) that was just the beginning...we prayed over my hair, over school projects, or friends, over heartaches, over needs over events...we prayed and prayed and prayed! Such a sweet memory I have of praying with my mom- that was our FIRST reaction to everything....to pray.
My mom never once treated me like I was insignificant- I ALWAYS felt like she truly valued my opinion and what I had to say. She always treated me with respect- even though she was my mother and demanded that respect from me.
So- mom- I love you- as I look back on my childhood- I cannot think of one negative thing about you...I cannot think of one thing I would have changed about my childhood. I hope that this is a tribute to you as a mother and shows you how amazing you were and still are.

Happy Mother's Day to this mommy's mommy!

Sweet Beckham times...

I was rocking Beckham and whispering into his ear "I love you"....he would then laugh....it was the best best best!!! Cherishing those sweet Beckham moments!

My first potty training experience

Day 1 of potty training- Monday, April 18th, 2011 (Parker is 2 years and 2.5 months)

I explained that he was now going to pee in the potty, etc, etc. I put him in big boy underwear and off we went. Parker had his first accident and came and told me "Poo poo"...which he really meant pee pee....so that made me happy because he at least realized something wasn't right and we went and sat on the toilet and I changed his underwear. My sister-in-law suggested that I borrow their potty seat and move it to where ever we were in the house as a constant reminder to him to use the potty. So that is what we did! However, Parker did not get that pee pee was supposed to go IN the potty until right before bed when he was taking his bath...he started peeing in the tub and I immediately scooped him out of the tub and put him on his potty where he finished peeing...we were excited!!


Day 2: April 19th
He has gotten the concept that you pee pee in the potty!!!!!
We really haven't had any accidents today, and Parker has gotten to the point that he will go sit on the potty by himself and pee. I let him run around the house totally naked and every time he felt the urge he would go sit on the potty and pee. I would carry that potty seat faithfully everywhere we were (even in the car to the store) because if he needed to go..I was going to catch it!! I was amazed! It was a BLAST! Blake and I were even adventuresome enough to go to the grocery store with him and we were constantly asking him..."Do you have to go pee pee or poo poo??"...he would always say "NO!"...well, he really didn't- because he stayed dry and about 10 minute after we got home he came and told me he needed to go potty (he says "poo poo" for potty!! ha!) and he sat down and went! One thing I am going to have to work on is him pulling his underwear down by himself. Tonight, Blake was rocking Beckham (I had to leave and go to Bible study) and Parker came in with the little bowl insert from the potty and showed Blake that he had pee'd...Blake was a little confused because Parker's underwear were wet too- but later figured out that Parker hadn't pulled his underwear down to go pee- he just sat on the potty and pee'd through them! Guess that will be my project to work on tomorrow! I am a little nervous though- because I have to take both of them to Beckham's pediatrician appointment and I am going to be like white on rice with Parker and potty-ing!

So far- I am super encouraged. I really didn't think Parker was going to be ready at this age- but so many people told me to try, since Parker was showing SO much interest in it! So I tried and I am so glad that I did! Hopefully tomorrow I will feel the same way! :) Praise God for a good day! I will thank Him one-day-at-a-time! :)

I have truly loved staying home and focusing on this- not because I love potty training, but because I love getting to just hang out and have true one-on-one quality time with my boys. Play-dough, playing outside, playing in the sprinkler, watching him drive his powerwheel, playing blocks together, sitting in lawn chairs out front and eating apples together and blowing bubbles....it's Heaven! Such sweet sweet quality time...you couldn't pay me enough to give that up!! Ok- well- hopefully Day #3 will be a success. I am really nervous since I will be out and about with them all day....guess I will need to bring a lot of extra clothes!! :)


Day 3- April 20, 2011:
Today was another great day in the potty training world! Parker seems to have officially "gotten" the peeing part of potty training. We were outside and he was in the middle of hard core playing and suddenly looked up at me and said "Pee pee" and we ran him over to the potty and he pee'd! Amazing. He doesn't understand the pooping part yet. I think I am going to have to catch him in the act and put him on the potty for him to understand.

He was so cute tonight when I was putting him in bed...I was rocking him and all of the sudden he said "poo poo" and so I went and put him on the potty and he would look down into the toilet in between his legs and say "where'd the poo poo go??"- I would reply "it went down the drain...it went bye bye" and then he would say "bye bye poo poo"! ha! It was so extremely precious!!!!

Day 4- April 21, 2011:
Today we had a success moment with poo poo!! Parker told Blake he had to go poo poo and he sat down on the big potty and 30 seconds later there was poop!! YAY!!


He had several pee pee accidents today-but the last one he had, I told him that pee pee doesn't go on the floor it goes in the toilet and I pointed in the toilet that was 5 steps from where he had his accident :). So- after he woke up from his nap- I wasn't able to get into his room quick enough- so when I walked in he was sitting on his potty with his pull-up still on going pee in his pull-up. I thought- "well, at least he got the concept that he needed to sit on the potty!!" So tonight while Autumn and I were sitting at the dinner table eating dinner- Parker sat down on the potty and went pee pee...he stood up very proudly, pointed into the toilet and said "poo poo" and then started clapping!! haha...he knows now that pee pee in the toilet is something we should clap about!!! So as I go to bed tonight- I feel a sense of success...we ended on a good note- he pooped in the potty today and he peed on the potty 2 times tonight! :)

Day 5- April 22, 2011:

Today was a great day- we did have a poo poo and pee pee accident, however, my spirits are totally up. I know that Parker has the concept in his head it's just going to take some perfecting! Today we spent some time over at my parents house and we were out in their front yard playing when all of the sudden, Parker looks up at me and says "poo poo"??? So we run inside and he sat down and pee'd. I think I have realized that all of the times that Parker has gone to the restroom were on his own...he came up with the idea...and none of the times were when I asked him if he needed to go! OK- so I think tomorrow, I might try letting him tell me on his own!

One new thing he is doing is when he wakes up in the morning he will be screaming at his door "Poo poo off!!!!"...telling me to take his diaper off! Ha! Guess diapers aren't an option anymore other than at night!

Until tomorrow.... :)

Day 6- April 23, 2011:

Today we had a Theiss family reunion in College Station. I was a little nervous taking Parker and the potty seat; unsure of how he would do in an unfamiliar setting. He did great- we had one small accident- but over all he went pee on the potty twice while we were there. It took him a LONG time to have to go so we were all constantly asking him (even though yesterday I said I wasn't going to do that!).
On the way home from C.S. Parker said the magic word for potty "Poo Poo??"- so we pulled over in front of a fruit stand (not on purpose- it just happened to be where we could pull over the quickest) and I got the potty out and Parker out and pulled his pants down and had him sit on the potty....it was HIIIIILARIOUS!!! Parker kept looking behind him at the cars zooming by- then a van that had been visiting this little farmer's market pulled by to leave and it was a mom driving (kids in the back)- we made eye contact and both started DYING laughing!!! I had never met this mommy before and probably never will- however, she and I laughed like we were best friends!
So- to end the night- Parker and I were taking a bubble bath and he said "poo poo" again- so I put him out of the bath and he walked over to his potty and POOPED!!!! I didn't even look when he went because I thought it was just pee- but Blake came in and announced it when he saw! I was SOOO excited!!!!
So- we are on a roll with this potty training week! Tomorrow will be my last blog....tomorrow is church (Easter Sunday!)- so we will see how Parker does telling someone else he has to potty!

Wish me luck! :)

Day 7- April 24, 2011!!!

So- today is the last day of my week long venture of potty training. Obviously I am still going to be potty training Parker- but I have made it through the week and I will no longer be blogging about it!
So today is Easter Sunday- and we took Parker to church in his big boy underwear! He did GREAT! Not one accident and he even went potty at church! Tonight he went poo poo in the potty and we were SO excited about that!
He had a semi-accident when sitting on the potty to go pee- he managed to pee through the toilet seat and onto his underwear and pants...so even though he was going potty on the toilet, we still had to change his pants! :)

Well- I would have never imagined my week would have been this successful- praise God!!! I am SO excited to have survived the initial stages of potty training a toddler!

My Parkerman- what is he like

So what is Parkerman up to these days? He is a little over 2 and crazy as ever!

-The other day, he ran and got my Lilly Pads off my counter and came in to the kitchen with them stuck to his chest! haha!!
-He loves to "read" books in bed. Tonight- we sat in his bed while he read books to me...it was such a fun special time to just be with each other. Then, daddy came in and we had such a fun, sweet time just the 3 of us!
-He LOOOOVES bubbles...tonight we were playing with bubbles and one went flying away...watching him run across the yard chasing that bubble was one of the most PRECIOUS sights!!
-Tonight, after we read books in bed, I asked if he wanted to go night-night or for me to rock him..."wock" is what I got, and "rock" is what we did....it was heeeeaven!!!! Man-o-man do I enjoy rocking my baby boy- even though he is now so big on my lap, that I can barely hold him :(
-Talks on the phone, big time!
-He LOVES bubble baths! ("bubble baaa"!!)
-He's not potty trained, but VERY interested in it all. He comes and tells me when he has pooped
-He LOVES the guitar!
-He can now drive his powerwheel truck all over the place and reverse and I don't have to help him!

Some of his words...hard to remember all of them- he is talking SO much!
"Whoa, that's a BIG TRUCK"
"Where did he go?"
"Park!"
"Thank you (pronounced tant-to)" and "Please...(or Peas)"
"Gigi and Poe Poe"
"Daddy and mommy" (actually gets the right person with the right name now! ha!)
"HI mommy!!!!!!!" while running up to me! (This one melts my heart into 1 million joyous pieces!!)
"Ba-beans" (Black beans)
"Poo Poo"
"Pee pee"
Sings "Deep and wide" WITH the hand motions!
"night night"
"Nika (or Dika), Abby and Sranchroooo (Sancho)"
"Nemo"
"yellow and blue"
"Happy Plate!!!!" and then we sing our "Happy plate"song that I made up...
"Beebow" (Big mow...referring to Daddy's big mower)
We picked him up after being gone over a weekend and it was amazing how many more words he has. He is actually talking to us and I can understand what he is saying! Now we are getting into some sentences too. Such a blast!!

He definitely tests my authority MUCH more now, but the fun that comes with him growing up and getting more independent is unending! I must admit though- with each new phase, comes the new phase of me letting go of my baby boy more and more. It's soo hard- my heart is so attached and I know that I have to let him go and let him grow up and be a big boy and do things on his own- without mommy....but it's just sad sometimes!

So, that's my Parkerman...and what's happening with him! He's still the joy of my life along with his baby brother Beckham! Loving every minute of being a mommy!