Abundantly…

Blessed.

***

Happy Mother’s Day.

My little boy is 3 months old!

This has been a month of discovery for our little guy:

His hands… Those things at the end of his arms provide almost endless entertainment! When he was born, my doctor noticed his incredibly strong grip… He has gotten very good at grabbing (and hanging on to) his toys…or tiny handfuls of hair. He still hasn’t quite figured out how his thumb works, but his entire fist seems to be an acceptable substitute.

His tongue… He is constantly chewing on it, moving it around, and sticking it out. Babies are supposed to exercise, and practice using their tongues before they are born. But, he wasn’t able to do that because of his tongue-tie…so, he is making up for lost time! The massive amounts of drool that have accompanied this discovery have also made me wonder if a little tooth was trying to sneak in an early appearance…but so far I haven’t found one.

His voice… My 3 month old is already a talker! Yes, he fits into this family well. He loves to practice…trying out different sounds…and volumes. And, I love that he now responds when we talk to him! I don’t know what he is saying, but it sounds very important! Hannah thinks he is a baby-genius, and according to her, he already has quite an impressive vocabulary.

Toys… He still loves to cuddle, but he is beginning to enjoy being put down…if it means he gets to play! Sometimes, he will even  protest if I hold him for too long after a feeding. His current favorite toy is a baby gym (it used to be Hannah’s!), with toys that hang down and spin or rattle. He likes to grab them, or bang them together, or kick them…or, all three at once! I am beginning to think that more noise equals more fun!!

Don’t know if I’ve mentioned it recently, but I love this little guy!!

Little Boy Blue. What a handsome little guy.

Silly school days…Sometimes phonics makes you kind of crazy.
We’re still playing catch up from our (extra) time off earlier this year. Even with Hannah’s hard work, it looks like we’ll be continuing with school through the summer.  (But, the more I think about it, the more I really like that idea!)
Thankfully, she has a great attitude, and has found ways to keep it fun!

I guess we were having a little too much fun… Poor little guy, we interrupted his nap!

I love this girl’s creativity! Isn’t this the cutest bunny you’ve ever seen!? (My favorite is the tail.)

Tummy time! This is one strong little guy.

Just a few of the sweet moments that make up my days…Yes, I really do have the best job in the world.

Drinking…an afternoon cup of (decaf, dairy-free) coffee…  Yes, as a matter of fact, I am wondering why I even bothered.

Reading…well, re-reading Nourishing Traditions. A possible dairy allergy/intolerance in my little guy has renewed my interest in creating and maintaining a healthier, more whole foods approach to our family diet.

Watching…my daughter finish up her school assignments for the day, while my son naps in his swing….

Enjoying…a few moments of quiet before tackling the clean laundry pile on my couch.

Realizing…that it will probably be a while before I have large blocks of time in which to complete chores, projects (big and small), etc. And…

Learning…to use little bits of time productively while I have them.

Boxing up…my boy’s newborn-sized clothes, most of the 0-3 month sized clothes (already!)…and my maternity clothes.

Hoping…that I’ll get to use them all again someday…

Treasuring…this season of life as a mommy of little ones. Yes, some of the nights are a bit too short. Some days, the laundry piles up faster than I can wash it.  And just getting out of the house for more than a few minutes is a major accomplishment… But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Wondering…why I complain about not having enough time to do the things that matter, when I waste so much time on things that don’t matter.

And on that note…

Finishing…this post because I need to fold the laundry…and make dinner…and snuggle with my little guy…and play dolls with my girl…and not necessarily in that order.

All of these are still in the “to be read” category.

Did I ever show you what my sweet husband brought me from his trip to the Shepherds’ Conference last month?

J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on John! All. Three. Volumes. I can’t wait to jump in. (Yes, he got them over a month ago, and I’ve yet to crack the spine on any of them. However, I think I have a pretty cute excuse.)

And, joining J.C. Ryle…

Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be), by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck – A Christmas present from my sweet husband. Yes, he knows my love language. Oh, books isn’t an “official” love language? Well, it is in this house!

Worship: The Ultimate Priority, by John MacArthur – My husband is currently reading the copy he received at the Shepherds’ Conference, and keeps telling me I need to read it. However, we don’t do too well sharing books, because, I am (overly) fond of my yellow highlighter, and he doesn’t like his books to glow in the dark. Thankfully, another copy recently appeared in our mailbox (courtesy of Grace to You, I believe).

Raising Real Men, by Hal and Melanie Young – This was sent to me by my new friend, Melanie, who is a mother of 6 boys (and 2 girls). Being brand new to the world of boys, I loved this quote from the back cover: “A practical guide to equipping the hearts and minds of boys without breaking or losing your own.”

This boy is my little snuggle-bug. He loves to be held! On the rare occasion that he isn’t in someone’s arms, he likes to have a blanket or stuffed animal to hug!

He can be very intense and serious one moment, and silly with a huge, toothless grin the next.

And, he likes to move…constantly.

Titus at 2 Months

Seemingly overnight, he has turned into a super sleeper! (Yay for Prevacid and a full tummy!)

2-Month Milestone: On March 24th, he  slept through the night (6 hours!) for the first time! He then followed that up on the night of April 2nd, with a 9 hour stretch. Nine. So far, that was a one-time event, but a welcome one, for this sleep-deprived mommy. Now, he consistently sleeps for at least 6 hours each night, and takes a 3-hour nap each afternoon!

We are so thankful for another month with our boy!!

Happy 7th Birthday, Hannah!

Your sweet smile is one of the best parts of my day…  And I happen to think that it is only getting cuter as your little teeth are beginning to disappear! And thankfully, since I get to spend all day with you, I get to see those smiles a lot!

While we didn’t move you to a new state this year, your world once again changed drastically as you (finally!) became a big sister!! I love that your little brother is just as much an answer to your prayers, as he is mommy’s and daddy’s.  It has been so sweet to watch you with him… Holding him, comforting him, praying for him, and making him smile (when no one else can!) with all of your silly faces! I’m sure he has no idea (yet!) how blessed he is to have you for a big sister!

As I watch you grow into such a joyful, compassionate, helpful, and beautiful (inside and out!) little girl, I am reminded of the blessing and privilege that it is to be your mommy.  I am so thankful for the precious gift that God gave us in you 7 years ago.

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!!

In our homeschool this week… Oh, you hear those crickets too? Since Titus was due at the beginning of February, we didn’t take much time off at Christmas, in order to take the whole month of February off to just enjoy our new little son/brother. My original plan was to start back to school this week.  (Well, actually my original original plan was to start back during the first full week of March, but, Grandma came to visit instead, so that didn’t happen.)  But, while my original plans did factor in a newborn…they did not factor in a newborn with a tongue-tie, reflux, and nursing problems, which necessitated round-the-clock feedings, every hour, on the hour!  Making us all a bit sleep-deprived (some more than others!), and capable of functioning on only the most basic levels.  But, after (several) doctors visits, I am hopeful that we are finally making some significant progress with some of these issues, and maybe even moving toward a more functional schedule.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… Most, if not all, of our outings in recent weeks have been to some form of medical professional: The pediatrician, the OB, the lactation consultant, the ENT, the midwife, the pediatrician again… And so on. One doctor laughed when I told her we were on a field trip.

My favorite thing this week was… Oh, so many things to choose from… My son finally being able to nurse properly…and going more than 1 hour between feedings…and sleeping from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. (that’s 5 whole hours, people!)… And, maybe at the top of the list – watching my kids “play” together.

Things I’m working on… This weekend is dedicated to reworking our lesson plans for the rest of the school year…because we are starting school up again next week! Partly because I need some semblance of order and routine in my day (and so does Hannah), and partly because I don’t want our last day of 1^st grade to end a mere 24 hours before 2^nd grade begins!

I’m grateful for… Our church family…we have been so blessed and overwhelmed by their kindness and generosity over the past few months!  Before Titus arrived, they threw an amazing shower for us, equipping us with everything we could possibly need (or want!) for our little guy!  Then, for weeks after he arrived, they delivered wonderful meals to our family so I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking!  I’m sure my family was disappointed when I finally took over the menu-planning and cooking duties again.

I’m praying for… Dear friends who have recently lost loved ones… Parents who have had to bury their children, and children (though grown) who have had to bury their parents. Thankful that even in their sadness, they “do not grieve as others do who have no hope,” but can look forward to a joyous reunion one day.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Brother & Sister

I just love watching these two interact. And, I love how they seem to genuinely enjoy each other. Yes, already.

*****

Linking up this week with:

and

Titus Ryle

And, no. It is not a family name. (That is the most common guess/assumption.)

Titus: In Latin, it means “A great defender.” In Greek, it means “Honorable.” His first name comes from the New Testament book of Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles.  The recipient (Titus) was a Greek convert to Christianity.  He was the apostle Paul’s ”true child in a common faith” (Titus 1:4), and became a faithful fellow worker in the ministry of the gospel.

Ryle (pronounced rye-el):  His middle name is in honor of John Charles (J.C.) Ryle. J.C. Ryle was an Anglican pastor in England, in the 1800’s. It is said “that perhaps few men in the nineteenth century did as much for God, for truth, and for righteousness, among the English speaking race, and in the world, as [J.C. Ryle].”  Today, his books, commentaries, and sermons are favorites in our home.

Titus Ryle: 6 Weeks Old

Our prayer is that he would grow up to truly live out the meanings of his name. That he would be a man of honor, and a great defender of the faith…like these faithful men of God whose names he bears.

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned…” ~Titus 2:7-8