Sunday, September 25, 2011

Logan Goes to Kindergarten

This school year has been very emotional for me. My baby Logan has started kindergarten. It seems like it was just yesterday that he was born. Logan loves school and his teacher so much! He's so excited to get up every morning and go. On the weekend, he still wants to go to school. He's made such improvement already. Mrs. Loftus says Logan is sweet and kind to everyone in his class. He's a reliable helper. I've prayed so hard for Logan and his kindergarten teacher. So thankful for the faithfulness of Christ to answer my prayers.

Here's a picture from Sneak a Peek night before school started with his teacher Mrs. Loftus:


Here's some pictures from the first day of school:







Saturday, September 24, 2011

Football and Devotion

It is said that football is most important in Texas. Texans live for fall and football season. That's very true of most Texans.  I was raised in the tradition of Crimson Tide football, which got me a lot of grief a couple of years ago, when we tamed Texas to win our 13th national championship.

As a true Crimson Tide fan, I watch every game I can even if it's on the internet. I check rankings, subscribe to blogs, and keep up to date even in the off season. On game days, my boys and I wear our Tide shirts and schedule our day around the game. My husband even had our curb address painted with the Alabama A and Roll Tide. Most people who know us, know we are Crimson Tide fans. They can observe it by the clothes we wear and Facebook status updates and tweets. I'm a devoted fan, and it's something I'm passing on to my children, just as my dad passed it to me.

I've been reevaluating life a lot lately. Am I more devoted to Christ than I am to my family, my job, my friends, my football team? Can people sense Christ in me? Am I doing a good job of modeling devotion to Christ for my boys? Am I showing my boys how to know Jesus and have an intimate relationship with Him and not just teaching them about Jesus?

Earlier this week, my mom asked Lucas, "Does God love Lukie?". Lucas said, "Yes." Mom said, "Does Lukie love God?". Lucas said, "no". At first, I was horrified, then I remembered he's 2. But that conversation got me to thinking about how important it is for us to provide them opportunities for their own encounters with Jesus. My devotion to Jesus isn't enough for them. They have to have their own relationship Him and choose to be devoted to Him on their own. Being raised in the "tradition" of Christianity isn't enough.

Truth is I'm a Crimson Tide fan because my Dad is from Alabama and he's a Crimson Tide fan because his family were Crimson Tide fans. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Crimson Tide. I started out as a Tide fan because of my dad, but I stay a Tide fan because I've come to love them on my own.

I don't want my boys to think they are Christians because Mommy and Daddy are, or because we're at church almost every time the door is open, or because they know about all Jesus/God and His Word. I constantly asking God to show us how to help our boys realize they need to know Jesus on their own and have a relationship with Him because they individually love Jesus, not because that's how they were raised or how our family is.

Here's a picture of my little Crimson Tide fans:


Friday, September 16, 2011

Lucas' 2 Year Check Up

Lucas and I went to see Dr. Davidson today...Lucas was so excited to go somewhere with Mommy by himself! Next time, we need to go somewhere where he doesn't get shots. Lucas weighs 26.6 lbs which puts him in the 25th percentile and is 34 1/2 inches tall which puts him in the 50th percentile. His head circumference is 48.7 which also puts him in the 50th percentile. Lucas is right on target with his sleeping habits. He eats better than most 2 year olds and his vocabulary is advanced for his age. His motor skills are on target or advanced for his age. Dr. Davidson said he's perfect, but I already knew that! He got his Hep A and flu shots. He cried for 2 minutes and squeezed out 2 real tears...it was mostly drama. He's the drama king! But he was smiling as soon as he got his stickers and little purple dinosaur. He fell asleep on the way home and then woke up his normal happy self!

Here's a picture of Lucas his Aunt Calli took of him.


Saturday, September 10, 2011

Lucas Elisha is 2!!!

I can't believe it's almost been a month since my Lukie turned 2 and I haven't blogged about it!

After several months of trying to get pregnant and trying to avoid an August baby so I wouldn't miss the beginning of the school year, I found out around Christmas that I was pregnant with my little Luke and was due August 19th the Wednesday before the school year started. Disappointment over the timing was soon overwhelmed by the joy that Logan and Justin were going to be big brothers (for Justin again). Logan was so excited about the baby. He was so impatient saying things like "I want my baby now!" (two weeks after we told him), "It's no fair, why do you always get to carry him around!?" (around 6 months).



My biggest fear throughout my pregnancy was a repeat of what happened with Logan at birth. I decided early on I wanted a C-section again, hoping to avoid an emergencies. On August 12, 2009, Logan and I went to see The Prince of Egypt at the Studio Movie Grills' kids summer series with our best friends Krista, Chelsea, and Melody; Rikki, Rachel, and Lauren; and Heather and Josiah. We went home; Logan took a nap and I went for my weekly check up. Nothing had changed and my C-Section was scheduled for the following Monday. On the way home, I started having contractions. By the time I got home, they were 3-5 minutes apart and lasting about 1-5 minutes. When Joshua got home, he wanted to go to the hospital; I wanted to go to church. He finally made me text Joel (our student minister at the time) and tell him I was having contractions and going to the hospital. They called my doctor and she said she would come in and the do C-section. Because I had a cheese stick at 4:00pm, they wouldn't do my C-section until 10:00pm. I was slightly aggravated that I feeling that contractions, the other part of the reason I wanted a C-section. Finally at 10:00pm, my doctor came in and they took me to the OR. Once she had cut me open, I heard her say, "oh...wow.". Lucas' cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times!!!! At 10:26pm, my precious Lucas was born.

I waited for his little cry, while the NICU people were on their way down. Thankfully I heard Lucas' cry and he started breathing on his own. Because of the cord and lack of oxygen at first, he was also admitted to the NICU. Lucas was in the NICU from Wednesday night until Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, we both came home. I was so thankful that we did not have to leave him at the hospital like we did Logan. We were unable to hold him until Saturday morning because they ran his IV through his belly button.



Lucas was such a good baby...he slept 6 hours straight his first night home from the hospital! Our experience with Lucas bonded our family closer together. I remember how disappointed Logan was at the hospital when he couldn't see or hold his brother. They had an immediate bond once Logan was finally able to meet and hold his brother. Logan has always been very protective of his brother and continues to be to this day.



"Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:16

The most important thing that God reinforced to me was that He knew the number of days of Lucas' life (and the rest of my family). He is in control. My trust is in Him because He's the One with all the answers. I know He loves my Lucas more than I can even begin to be capable of and He will always take care of Lucas (and the rest of us).



"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or turning." James 1:17

At a year old, Lucas was a special reminder of the blessings God gives us daily. Lucas and Logan have always had such a special relationship. They truly love each other and love being together. They always have. Their additions to our family and their unconditional love spurs me to remember the Lord's faithfulness in other areas of our lives.



"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it well." Psalm 139:14
As Lucas reaches this mile stone of 2, he is really coming into his own. His little personality is developing. He has very strong opinions of what he does and does not like. It's amazing how very different he and Logan are. He also a reminder of the uniqueness of each of us.





I cannot imagine our lives with our precious Lucas Elisha! I'm so thankful for every second God has given us with Him! Mommy and Daddy love you Lukie!