30, Flirty, and Thriving

"Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving"

My favorite line from this delightful romantic comedy 13 Going on 30. And the phrase that kept going through my head on September 27th, as I celebrated with friends and family turning the big 3-0.  (see trailer to the movie at the bottom of this post)

I started off the morning with brunch at OverEasy with 2 of my best friends from elementary school.  Then we had a quick run to get our nails done, and back home for nap times for the kiddos (Andy graciously watched the kids that morning for me).

My parents threw me a fun, fabulous, 30th party that night.  Beautiful weather, fun with friends, perfect night.

Ellie 9 Months

A few days ago, Ellie baby turned 9 months.  My how she is growing!  Her stats at the pediatrician were:

Weight: 20 lb 11 oz (75-90%)

Height: 28.5 inches (75-90%)

Head Circumference: 17.5 inches

 Some crazy baby chatting and can-can-ing-it while in the pediatrician's waiting room

Showing off her two bottom teeth

She is still my happy camper, loves giggling at Jackson, crawling everywhere (she started this right after Labor Day), and causing me to re-baby-proof my house.

The foods she's tried this month are mango, watermelon, winter squash, cucumbers, and baby Puffs.  She can still be unsure of food textures, but surprisingly will eat whole Puffs without a problem.  Ellie still nurses every 3 hours during the day, goes to bed at 5:45 pm (because she is crying to go to bed then!), and wakes up anywhere between 4 and 5 am for a feed and then usually goes back to sleep until 6 am. or so.

 Playing with our cousin Stephen

Jackson showing me his freshly brushed teeth

 She's my messy eater, and proud of it

Playdate with the Menendez and Russell kids

Jackson still loves it when we read to him, and he self plays really well.  His vocabulary and words have dramatically expanded, and most recently he will say "I no ike (like) it," which I learned today is his way of mimicking Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham." He has an excellent memory and recalls anything and everything.  Jackson is still really sweet with Ellie, and if he makes her cry, he will tell me why she is crying, fessing up to pushing her or squeezing her cheeks :)  He also sings along with the Bible songs we listen to the in the car, and it just melts my heart.

Phrases as of late:
"I/my did it!"
"God did it!" (with anything he likes, in discussing who made the rain, in talking about ice cream...)
"I happy!"
"Mama happy!"
"I tired too"
Every color is "Blue"
What does the elephant say?  "BOOO!" (Auburn brainwashing and I love it)
 "Waaar, Eagle HEY"
"Go Au-buuurn"
"Scuse me!"
After sneezing, "Bess you; bess me"
"No maaaam did-turh (sister), no maaaam"
"My help" (meaning, I'll help you, all by myself too)

Activities as of late:
Very attention-detail oriented, builds choo-choo houses
Loves glue sticks, putting caps back on anything
OCD-tendencies...everything must be in its proper place
Very helpful and insistent on unloading the dishwasher, throwing away trash, blowing his own nose "my boow" (aka blow)

First Auburn Game

Two weeks ago, we took our kids to their very first Auburn game (if you don't count Jackson going to A-Day when he was 11 weeks old).  Auburn played very well against Arkansas State, and we were proud of the kids lasting through the first quarter (considering kick-off was at 6:30 pm, and both of our kids are normally in bed by then).

 Our attempt at a family pic. Keepin' it real.

We had a delightful time reliving memories while strolling around campus, meeting up with friends, tailgating with family. 

 We first met up with our dearest friends, the Gross family. I met Emily in college, and she has been my mentor, friend, confidant since our days at Auburn. I enjoyed following in her footsteps in various activities and organizations at Auburn, and I cherish her and her sweet, godly family.

 This was the first time our kiddos got to meet, and they hit it off! Jackson loved following the big girls around, and the girls were so precious with my kids.

 This is probably Ellie's first time to be set down in the grass (and what a perfect place to try it out! In front of Samford Hall!). Needless to say, she wasn't the biggest fan of the texture on her soft baby skin. Abby Jane was so sweet to love on Ellie and reassure her while we gathered all the kids for a group picture.  Abby Jane has the kindest, sweetest, smartest little heart, and she is one little lady who loves Jesus.  Em and Jake have done a phenomenal job raising their sweet brood of girls.

 We got to meet Baby Owen McCay, 7 weeks old in this picture!  Andy and Andrew were college roommates, and we've enjoyed keeping up with them over the years.

 Aunt Beth and Uncle Blake were our extra set of hands, eyes, and ears with our kids at Aunt Myra's tailgate.

 Stacy and her family happened to walk by our tailgate spot!  It was fun catching up with my sweet nursing school friend, and our boys were even born on the same day at the same hospital. Excuse my red face...it's evidence of the heat and humidity on this Alabama summer day.

 Fun seeing the Stewart girls

Poor Jackson didn't make it out of the stadium. The eagle flying, spotting Aubie, watching the band, and all the action on the field wore my little buddy out.

WAR EAGLE!!

Encouragement for Mommies

Being a mother is truly a GIFT.

Just as being single is a GIFT.

Just as being a widow is a GIFT. (If you don't believe me, ask Elisabeth Elliot)

In reading through old journals, old school entries with the standard school photo and the question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  More often than not, I answered, "A mommy."

I am beyond grateful for my two healthy, precious children.  We have prayed and prayed for both of our children, we are grateful for their health, their sweet hearts, their fun energy, and the gift of being parents.   But I must say, being a mother is not all I expected it to be.  I've never been more humbled in my life, clinging to the grace, energy, strength, and guidance from our gracious Father.  Combine my extreme humbleness with crazed hormones, a lack of what I deem sufficient sleep, the continual learning of dying to self, and bam!, you have a young mom with uplifted hands, seeking the Lord in how to raise my sweet kiddos.

From "Spirit-Led Parenting": This was me. Raising an imaginary child, pre-children, of course. Thinking "My child will NEVER act like that." Passing judgement on the poor mama with kids creating chaos in the grocery store aisles. Feeling that I've babysat enough to know how I want it done.

never. say. never.

For those of you longing to be mommies, for those of you not wanting to be mommies, for those of you grandparents that have been through the tough, but fun, little years, please

extend grace

Here are some links to some extremely encouraging articles that have given me perspective, encouragement, and the hope to press on in raising these two children the Lord has given, and equipped, me to raise.

Mom vs. Mom 

10 Ways to be a Happier Mom 

Why Being a Mom is Enough

How to be Done with Worry 

 
Labor & Deliver

I love this italicized phrase from the book "Spirit-Led Parenting."

"Contentment is essentially a matter of accepting from God's hand what He sends because we know that He is good and therefore it is good." J.I. Packer

"God is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings, and the master of all masters." I Timothy 6:15

Feeling blessed, humbled, and renewed by God's never-ending grace and love,

Emily

p.s. If any of you need book recommendations, or just someone to talk to, contact me.  For those who know me, I am quite the voracious reader, and I can easily recommend any number of parenting books that have encouraged me (with the Holy Bible being the best place to start).

 

Ellie 8 Months

My Ellie baby is 8 months old, and what a delight she is.  She is sitting up well on her own, always giggling and grinning at big brother, sleeping 11-12 hours at night (and in bed at 5:45 pm... she  has done it on her own.  She likes to go to bed early!), and is such a little ham, just like her brother.

For my record, she has eaten this month: peas, spinach, plums, pumpkin, carrots. Apples and plums are her favorite thus far.

At a quick visit to the pediatrician today, she weighed a grand 19 lb, 9.9 ounces (with clothes and diaper, so I'm guessing she is 19 1/2 lbs).  Love my little chunk.  I can see her two bottom teeth coming in, and bless her, she can let me know they're coming in by occasional fussiness.  But still overall SUCH a happy camper, loves giggling at us, and especially at her big brother.

Jackson has gotten very verbal and remembers everything these days.  It's fun to hear him chatting up a storm.  I'll also start singing a kids song, and he'll finish it:

Me: Who built the ark?
Jackson: Noah, Noah
Me: Christ the Lord is risen today
Jackson: some semblance of "Alleluia"
Me: The animals went in two by two
Jackson: Hurrah, Hurrah

I've also been trying to do simple memory verses, with pictures on our fridge, and that coincide with our Steve Green "Hide 'Em in Your Heart" CD that we listen to in the car.

Jackson: Onna, Fada, Mada Deuonomee fine sixtee!!!  "Honor your father and mother." Deuteronomy 5:16
Jackson: Don wohwe, gangku, pway! Phipeen fow six! "Don't worry, be thankful, and pray!" Philippians 4:6

When reading to himself, you'll constantly hear him counting, "Won, Too, Free, Nine, Six!"  Close buddy, so close.  Four seems to escape our counting these days.

Playing in Jackson's big boy bed

My current favorite picture of all time

 We love spontaneous after-work play dates with GoGo

 Playdate with BFF Anna Grace Menendez

 One of the few outfits I've smocked for her

 My view at the grocery store

 Ellie's first time in the big cart at Publix