Six Months

My sweet little baby...I cannot BELIEVE you're already six months!!! I know people tell me to enjoy every second because you wake up one day and wonder where the time went, but oh my goodness!!! I don't think I was prepared for it to go by this fast. I don't even think I realized time traveled this fast - that's just how fun and entertaining you have been...we lose total track of time.

And oh how fun these past few months have been! Not only is time racing forward, but you're rapidly changing and evolving abilities have me thinking you must be some kind of baby genius to learn all you do on an hourly basis. Here are some of your highlights:
*You love to laugh (but I think I love it when you do more than you love to!). You giggle and squeal often, but you have this deep chuckle that comes from your gut when you really get going - it's always our aim to get you to this point because it is priceless. You love laughing at Papi, funny noises, when you get thrown in the air, when your armpits, sides, back of you neck, and belly are tickled, and sometimes you just look at us and start giggling (I know. We can be pretty darn silly sometimes).
*You're quite the traveler. You adapt to most situations and can fall asleep no matter where you are. Whether you're at friends houses, in cars, exercising with mama and her crew, chaotic races, church, outdoor festivals, daddy's work, my staffings w/ psychiatrists, you don't mind. You soak it all in. You love meeting new people (especially baby girls who are slightly older than you) and you're quite the easy going fellow with an inquisitive mind.
*Let's talk schedules: You still wake up at 7:00am, but your bedtime is now an earlier 8:15...we're lucky if we can keep you up till 8:30! You rarely cry when we put you down, but usually just fall right to sleep. You still eat every three bottles, 6/day, 6oz/bottle. You have been eating rice cereal for breakfast and dinner for about 3 weeks now, and have just started some veggies in the fast 4 days (replacing rice cereal at dinner time). You're not so fond of green beans (though I make you eat them anyway), but you seem to like carrots pretty well. That's all you've tried so far. We're gonna keep working on those green beans! You still take 4-5 naps a day - no joke. Most babies your age take about 2, but let me tell you - you need all of yours! We've tried to cut them back, but you fell asleep sitting straight up while dad was holding you standing one time. You're like your mama - you need that sleep!
*You've been doing this for a while, but you have now mastered finding your own pacifier on the floor and putting it in your mouth when you want it. You also hold your own bottles 50% of the time (you seem proud of this when you do it). You can sit up pretty well on your own, but you have quite the big head and it gets the best of you sometimes, causing you to tumble over. You still don't roll over a ton. You can, and have several times, but most of the time, you'd rather be on your back. You're trying to crawl and it's hilarious! You look like a turtle trying to swim on dry land.

I LOVE watching you with your daddy!!!! I hate to admit it, but you're turning into a daddy's boy, I'm afraid! You love spending time with him and you think he's pretty darn hilarious. I hope you grow up to be just like him. You have a pretty awesome dad! We pray for you often. We have different prayers we pray for you that include your future, your physical wellness and health, your salvation and understanding of God's love, to name a few. We try to do a specific one every night or so together. I pray for you every morning when I drop you off at Mrs. Linda's. Which speaking of Mrs. Linda's, you LOVE it there!!! She has given you PERFECT report cards for the past two weeks continuously now!!! So proud!!! You love being outside and to paint (yes, you do lots of art and you really like it!).

Thank you sweet Lincoln for bringing us unimaginable joy and delight! You've shown us a piece of our Savior that had never been fully understood nor experienced before you were brought into our lives. You truly are a gift we pray everyday to nourish and raise in the way the Giver intended. We are so looking forward to see how God will use you in mighty ways throughout your life!!! We love you!!!!!

The Hectic Weekend

On the lighter side of things, it was a fabulous weekend despite the non-stop craziness and lack of sleep - rarely can i say "lack of sleep" and "fabulous" all in the same sentence.
And here's the re-cap (for those that are interested):
FRIDAY:
* Emotionally intense work day that ended way later than most of my Fridays
* Grabbed Lincoln and met mom at the Dogwood festival where the entire city of siloam decided to gather at the exact same moment.
* Our little family of three then spent the late night with Amy at her new house (which is absolutely adorable) plus some old, some soon-to-be-family, and some new friends.
* Got home after midnight, put Lincoln to bed, set my alarm for 5:45am (YES- AM).
SATURDAY:
* woke up at the above-mentioned unspeakable time to get ready for the big race day
* went to wake up the darling for his first race and this is what I found at 6:00am...

*transferred the little man to the carrier and met Amy in Tontitown where I fed the guy before his race
*waited for the race to start (Lincoln looks excited to be so early)

*raced for the cure - UPHILL, mind you

*some lady awarded Lincoln his first medal for his first race (let me tell ya, he worked HARD up those hills - seriously lady, where's my medal??!)

*Super proud!*went home and got ready to drive w/ Jen to Tulsa to visit Meredith

*got home LATE again, and set my alarm for 7:00am...sad

SUNDAY:

*woke up early to be at church to help lead worship for the two services

*went to Dogwood festival, AGAIN, for turkey legs, funnel cakes, corndogs, and indian tacos (Sunday dinner with the g-parents)

*came home and braved Walmart on a sunday afternoon (never a good idea)

*cooked for three hours for two different events

*went to the Dee's house for an unforgettable evening (see previous post)

*came home to find the electric fence shorted out and, yup,, DOG'S GONE (well, except for Bruce, of course)

*worry about dogs, drive looking for dogs, don't find dogs

*fall asleep

*wake up to VERY LOUD thunder

*go look for dogs again at 3:30am

*no luck

*Dogs decide to come back home at 6:30am

*Rare moment where I hate the dogs and try to sell them

Somewhere Along the Line, I Forgot to Sleep

This week was extremely eventful and desperately sparse on sleep and rest. When I finally laid my head down last night, I realized that I was physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent. My body ached form my dedication to working out continually this past week, ending it with Race for the Cure on Saturday (along with cooking, cleaning, chasing the dogs, playing with Lincoln, Dogwood, hanging out w/ friends from high school, etc.), my heart felt burdened for some events that took place at work throughout the week that remind me of my role and responsibility God has granted me in my job to try and provide hope when it's hard to find, and my soul was challenged by dear friends, tragedy, and a message of hope and inspiration. It all ended last night w/ Jason and I on the couch around midnight, sharing our hearts and the words God was speaking to each of our inner most parts.
I always talk about one of the summers I was in Ukraine (my 2nd trip there) where I have never felt the presence of God and of Satan in such a real manner. God had peeled back the curtains on the business we get so entangled in here in the states and I was able to see the heart of our existence - that we are in the midst of a raging battle where every second of our lives bids a choice where we decide "what side am I fighting for?" I had never before so clearly experienced and understood this concept as I did that summer. And I started to realize, that God continued to reveal this in a powerful way every time I was overseas doing mission work. It was so powerful and I can remember being at those orphanages, going to my bed every night feeling spent. Spiritually exhausted and empty, turning to my Bible and prayer to be filled again; desperately needing to be filled. A common saying among the Americans on those trips was "when we get back to the real world...." speaking of what they were going to do when they got back to their realities in the states. But I've come to realize, I so often escape the real world and that reality is the experience I had in Ukraine - that here, in America, in the midst of our daily lives, we are in an all-out WAR. How much am I living as to prepare myself for this battle? What side am I feeding and strengthening every second of the day? Why do I have to be in a desolute part of the world to fully see reality...?
Last night I was brought back to that place as Jason and I shared the evening w/ some good friends. Through conversations and spoken truth and hope through tragedy, God convicted our spirits and grounded us, back to reality.

Two of my all-time favorite worships songs played in my head throughout the night and as I tried to fall asleep last night...the words are powerful:

A thousand times I've failed, still Your MERCY remains...
Your will above all else, Your purpose remains
The art of losing myself, in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all things
My heart and my soul, I give you control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love you from the inside out, Lord

You give and take away, you give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:19-24 NIV

That's What Boys Do

So I was changing Lincoln's diaper (a very, very poopy one), and when I reached down to grab a diaper, I looked up to discover his hands were touching his "stuff". (Mind you, EVERYTHING a diaper covers get densely exposed to any form of excretions).

(Me: yelling, horrified, to Jason in the other room):

"Jason!! Lincoln's touching himself!!!!"

(Jason: nonchalant):

"That's what boys do, babe."

(Me, realizing Jason's not getting it):

"No, he pooped everywhere, I haven't wiped it yet, and, HE'S TOUCHING HIMSELF!"

Eruption of laughter from the living room.

Is that what boys do??? Goodness, I sure hope not.

On a lighter note, Lincoln sure enjoyed some of his new toys tonight.

Dedication

This morning was Lincoln's baby dedication at church. We go to a fairly young church, so baby dedications are the norm...I'll admit I think of them as a "normal" process, something you "do" when you have a baby. Yes - it's a good thing, but really - have I ever really sat down and contemplated the fullness of what it means to dedicate your baby, YOUR baby (as I so naturally want to think of it)???? Over the past few months Jason and I have grappled with this concept, prayed for it out of faith, come to terms with just what dedicating our child to the Creator means...Lord, could we really have had the faith to be obedient to Your command to sacrifice our only son like Abraham was??
But just as we are not ours, Lincoln is not ours either.
He truly is a gift, in every essence of the word.
Lord help us to remember that each day of our lives from here on out, in whatever path you decide to take us on, Lincoln is YOURS...praise the Lord, He belongs to YOU.

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." Luke 2:40

Here are some highlights (as always). :)

Lincoln, poppin' his collar...

3 generations (more people to spoil the little guy!)

And then...enough. Funny, but the little guy is WORN OUT today. He's on this third nap for the day, and 20 more minutes will make 3 hours on this one alone!

I Heart Pajamas (Kid One's)

I've never been for a "bed outfit", taking that extra moment to shuffle through drawers those few minutes before I've decided it's time (the holy moments known as SLEEP) to look for, you know - pajamas. Not me. In fact, when I decide it's time, IT'S TIME. Right then. I'm lucky if I make it into bed much less into pajamas before I fall asleep. Never been one to toss and turn for hours - when I'm down, I'm OUT. My husband on the other hand has to take time to "wind down" and "get sleepy"...get sleepy? What???? Those phrases don't even make sense to me! Sleep, I cherish; Pajamas? The take one minute away from my sleep time.
BUUUTTTTT, then I had Lincoln and Oh. My. Goodness. I have a new love affair with baby pajamas. :)

And then, the classic shot below. You've all seen them. Multiples, in fact (because I post them all the time), and mainly because I can't get enough. So if you've had enough, sorry (truly), but here's the latest of my two sweeties (3, if you wanna include the black lab fighting to be in the shot in the corner), taking their little afternoon siestas. :)

Happy Easter!

What a fabulous day!! Today I woke up to cold, rainy, dark skies, but yet it still remains as the most beautiful day - regardless. My Savior lives. He is who He says He is. And I have a place reserved with Him forever in eternity. Nothing is more beautiful than that truth and promise.

Today I was up at 6:00 getting ready for Easter service. I got the joy of being a part of the worship this morning, so I headed out alone, leaving Jason to accomplish Lincoln's first "Easter Sunday" outfit. He and my parents came for second service, and all through first service I had the anticipation of seeing them and joining them for worship. I was on stage when they arrived (I can always spot my 6'5 husband!), and OH.MY.GOSH. I saw this rascal in all his glory about 20 rows back and my little heart melted...a puddle, right there on stage. Take a look for yourself.

We quickly noticed Lincoln was dressed almost identical to the Senior Pastor (Jay) and his Children's Pastor (Jonathan)...funny.

And then he asked us to please stop taking pictures of him. :)

Alright, and the following are just a few from the past week that I like.

Lincoln's started holding his pacifier in his mouth like this - hilarious. And he thinks it's funny.