Growing pains and hair

Gideon has been a handful these last couple of days. He has one tooth coming in and another one following close behind. This might be the reason he has been so fussy and waking up more often at night. I also thought I was getting somewhere with training him to eat his solid foods. The last couple of weeks he was eating them so well. We've tried bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, applesauce, squash and carrots so far! However yesterday, he would have nothing to do with his solid food and today isn't looking hopeful either! I guess I'll just have to keep at it!

Here's two of my favorite pictures of him from this month. He's my "happy Gideon" in these shots!

Showing off!

On a different note, I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow. I chopped it when I was pregnant and now I'm back to growing it out again. It needs some help in the process and since it's been about four months since I even trimmed it, off to the hairdresser tomorrow! I was searching for a style that is cute but easy to grow out and this is one I found.




We'll see how it goes tomorrow!

Verses to ponder

"If you love your father or mother more than me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." Matt. 10:37-39

If someone were to ask me about my priorities, I think I would say: God, family, church, and so on. But is God really first? Do I really love him more than my husband and son? These are powerful verses and really a wake-up call. Think about it, if I am loving God with all that is in me, I will love my husband and son and family as I should. This is how God intended it to be.

If I am so attached to my life and what I own or think is mine or what I think I deserve...I am holding on to NOTHING. But if I live out my life for God and cling to Him...I have EVERYTHING. This is hard for me as I can be so attached to my things and money. God help me to cling to you and not the things of this world!

Boys will be boys

Gideon has been so much fun to play with these days. He has become so interested in everything around him. Last week, we made a mini fort for him. Who would have thought that he would enjoy that at only six months! What a nut! Here's a picture of his first fort. I'm sure they will only get bigger.



Gideon also loves his toys. He usually has one in his mouth at all times! I have found him reaching for the remote control quite often the past few days though. No Gideon, I won't let you become a couch potato!


Here's a picture of him excited to be playing in his exersaucer. He's such a goof sometimes. The faces he make just crack me up!


One of our favorite things to do when we're tired of being trapped in the house all day is a trip to the grocery store or Target! Here we are getting ready for a trip out! I love my little man.

Intimate Allies

I just finished reading a really good book called "Intimate Allies." It's written by Dan B. Allender and Tremper Longman and I definitely recommend it to any married couple. I actually read it before I got married but didn't get the full impact of it until after I was married, having experienced more of the married life with its joys and difficulties. I wanted to share a few points from the book that really challenged me.

One chapter was about "Enhancing Our Spouses Glory." It explains that we were made in the image of God and each of us uniquely reflects a part of God's glory. "Do we see our spouses as reflecting the face of God? Or are we captured more by their imperfections and our own disapointment?" It can be easier to focus on the negatives and imperfections that we see in our spouse, but what would happen if we viewed our spouse through the lens of glory? Disapointment could turn to gratitude and bitterness to joy. "Marriage unites two image bearers, two reflectors of God's glory. The marriage of two Christians has the potential to be truly wonderful and fulfilling. However, it is not something automatic, especially since we are image bearers who have rebelled against the one we reflect." Remember that we are sinners and marriage brings together two sinners. We can get stuck in the struggle of degrading our spouse instead of enhancing their beauty. "Realizing that our spouses are glorious creatures of God helps to push us out of the rut; it restrains us from shaming ourselves by degrading our spouses."

Another chapter was about "Shaping Beauty and Order out of Chaos." Chaos if referring to a world that is fallen because of sin. "We may either shape beauty and relational unity or enhance what is ugly and chaotic." One way we do this is with our words. Since I know that I am quick to speak, these verses really challenged me:

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Prov. 12:18

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Prov. 15:4

"Better to live on the corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." Prov. 21:9

"Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Prov. 29:20

"He who answers before listening, that is his folly and his shame." Prov. 18:13

Just a few thoughts and truths, but there are so many more in this book!

Spring in February?

Today felt like a spring day. Temperatures were in the 60s! Colin was off work so we took advantage of it and headed to Peace Valley Park!

Colin found this running stroller for a great price which worked great since we did a little running on the path. I miss running and it felt great to get back at it today.





We took a little break for some pictures on this bridge. Gideon was getting a little cranky at this point. We had been walking now for about an hour and I didn't realize we still had about an hour more to go!! We walked/ran the whole path which was over six miles!


Gideon enjoyed it until the very end. We ended up having to take him out of his stroller and carry him to the end. Talk about a work out! It was a fun day and worth the pain we will be feeling tomorrow!

Our day

I'm not a person who enjoys the winter months. I hate the cold and would much rather cuddle up in a blanket on the couch with a good movie and my knitting than to step foot outside. Speaking of knitting, I haven't had much time for it ever since Gideon was born. He is a very active baby and has been since the day he was born. All that I've managed to make in six months are two scarves. I plan to get back to it eventually. Anyway, today the temperatures reached the high 40's!! Gideon and I broke out of the house and headed to GG and Poppy's house first for the day. GG bought Gideon a fun toy which he loved. Thanks GG! Gideon really has turned a corner in his development in just this last week. He's been rolling from his belly to back, back to belly often and is learning how to sit up by himself. He has been very attentive and observant of people and their conversations.




Here is Gideon pulling Poppy's hair! Something else he has figured out how to do. Watch out, he is grabbing everything in sight!










Later, we headed out for a walk in the warm sunshine! I love walks with my Gideon and he loves them just as much. I think it is one of his favorite enjoyments. I'm so glad. It was so beautiful today. We were at Lake Lenape and saw many others out as well. I get lonely in the winter sometimes because you just don't see that many people out and about as much. When you do, they are hurrying out of the cold and don't seem as friendly. Well, I know that's true of me too! But when a warm day breaks out like this one, people are taking advantage of it and give smiles and hellos freely. I think we received and gave smiles to everyone we passed on the trail!


































We stop for a picture! He is so easy going when we are out for our walks. I think he gets bored very easily and would much rather be out and about than cooped up in a boring house. He can't relax ever and always has to be doing something! (hmm, I think he takes after his mommy)


We saw a flock of geese and Gideon just studied them. He was intrigued by their "squawking" and even tried to imitate them.





Here's my little goober lounging. He decided to kick his blanket off as well as his shoes. I guess he wanted to put his feet up! Whatever works! I don't like wearing shoes myself.

What a grand day!

OH, just six months ago...

A miracle was born.

"The first time ever I saw your face..."

A heart was stolen.

I once had an itty-bitty baby.

"A baby fills a place in your heart you never knew was empty."

Blue eyed boy

This is my amazing boy, Gideon. Looking into his eyes is like looking into the ocean. From the moment I saw that little heartbeat, I was in love. When I saw his face for the first time, I felt a love that I never knew before. It overwhelmed me and all I wanted to do was to protect him with my life. I remember being alone with him just hours after he was born, and all I could do was stare at him for an hour straight. It's amazing the little mini person he has developed into already. We call him our "little human." haha. I love who he is. Even though he looks just like his daddy, he is a lot like his mommy. He loves to play and act goofy. Sometimes we'll be in the car and he will randomly squeal in delight. I just smile and wonder what it is that he saw or thought. He likes to keep an eye on me most times. Once in awhile when he is playing in his exersaucer, he'll turn to see what I am doing or if I am watching him. So, I will turn to look at him and smile. He always smiles right back and continues playing. Most times he needs to be entertained, but once in awhile, he enjoys playing by himself. I will often spy on him and listen to him babble to himself. It's like he is in his own little world. Sometimes he is difficult, fussy and lets his temper show. He is unsure of people that he doesn't know. He will stare and study them for awhile before feeling comfortable to act like himself. He isn't the most cuddly baby, but he has his times where he will look into my eyes and rub his nose against mine as if to say, "I love you mom." That's all it takes on a long, tiring day to win me over. He's my boy and I love him.

My Life

Here is a picture that pretty much sums up why my life is so good. I have the gift of waking up everyday to these two faces. They are my boys and I love nothing more in the world than taking care of them. I feel that I'm doing exactly what I've always dreamed of doing, being a wife and mother. I enjoy making our home a place of comfort and love. Although, I sometimes fail at this and end up making it more of a place of chaos! Thank goodness for the freshness of a new day. What a responsibility I have in taking care of my son. God chose me to introduce him to the world and to teach him day by day. I am grateful everyday for the time I have with him. He really belongs to God, but God gave me (and my hubby) the gift of raising him.

Blog?

This is about the third time now that I've started a blog. I don't know why I keep starting them and then deleting them. I guess because no one actually reads them! I mean really, who really reads these blogs anyway?
I've always been a faithful "journaler." That is, I write out a lot of my thoughts, prayers and daily happenings. I communicate better in writing. Just ask my husband. I suppose blogging could be another fun way of doing this.