"Bringing Up Boys"

So I have been reading the book "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson......LOVE IT! I am only to the 4th chapter and I am completely enjoying it. There is one paragraph of the book that really lifted my spirits and reaffirmed my calling to be a mother....and, specifically, a stay-at-home mom. Here is the paragraph....

"Seventy percent of black babies and 19 percent of white babies in the United States are born out of wedlock. Most will never know their fathers or experience what it means to be loved by them. Only 34 percent of all children born in America will live with both biological parents through the age of eighteen. This is a recipe for trouble, especially when we consider the fact that 62 percent of mothers with children under 3 are employed. The number was half that in 1975! Fully 72 percent of mothers with children under eighteen currently hold jobs. This busyness of mothers combined with the non involvement of fathers means that too often there is nobody home! No wonder boys are in such a mess today!"

Dr. James Dobson, Bringing Up Boys

After I read this to myself I had to read it aloud to Kirk. We both looked at each other and smiled....THAT is why I choose to stay home and raise Caleb. THAT is why I am so blessed that God has given me a husband that LOVES his boy (and kids to come) and knows how important he is in the life of his children. THAT is why I thank God every day and I have a husband that actually WANTS me to stay home with our kids and is willing to make MANY MANY sacrifices in order to make that happen. I thank God daily for this opportunity and pray He gives me strength to raise Caleb the way God would have him be raised. It is a very HARD job being a stay at home mom but there are MANY rewards.

Don't get me wrong, I am not "bashing" on moms that work and I totally agree that there are moms that NEED to in order to keep their family healthy and strong. I know many kids (including myself) who have/had working mothers that turned out to be God fearing young men and women, and now adults. Staying home is not ideal for everyone. I just know that Kirk and i have made many sacrifices to be able to have me stay home and we are blessed that God has allowed us to do this at this point in our lives.

Anyways, now some pictures to share of our little guy.....he is a character. He got is first tooth last weekend. Enjoy the pictures!

My boys...watching basketball.












His new favorite place to play :)

Milestones...

So, we hit a milestone this past weekend.....Caleb is now MOBILE! :) Yikes. He started rolling from his back to his stomach on Saturday. Now, if you leave him on the floor anywhere, you come back and he is half way across the room. He always ends up on the opposite side of the crib after naps as well :). It is pretty cute. He knows he can move around now and he loves it. He always has a smile on his face.....well, at times he hits is head pretty hard on the way over and cries....we just need to work on the finess. :)

I know there are some that are anxious to see his roll so I put a small video up for their viewing pleasure (until you can see it in person). Caleb is growing SOOO fast! He is full of energy and all around LOUD! He is so much fun and such a blessing! Enjoy the video (there is sound as well if you wish).

Many hats...

I was reminded the other day how many "hats" mothers have to wear. I was remembering the first few months of motherhood and remembering how challenging and difficult they were. You feel as if you are pulling in every direction and everyone wants your attention. Not only do you have a baby that is SOOO dependant on you, but you also need to be attentive to how your husband is feeling as well as refocusing on a job (if you had to return to work). Fortunately, I didn't have to go back to work and I applaude and stand in awe of those mothers who do....what a difficult thing!

In revisiting these feelings of stress and difficulty, I reminded of the song "Your Grace is Enough". I know it is easier said than done, but I wish I would have spent more time in God's Word during those trying times. I find that now, when I am spending time in God's Word is when I am drawn to the truths and promises that He has given me. I remember during those first months, as I was trying desperately to get the hang of nursing and struggling with Caleb's jaundice and cholic, there were times when God just placed a worship song in my head to get the through. Many times it was that song....YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH!! There are times in my heart that I doubted that, but God would always pull me back and help me to see how blessed and favored I truely am. What wonderful and gentle God!!

Anyways, back to the "hats"...I was thinking of how special women are and how God designed us to wear many "hats"....be honest, do you think MEN could do all that we do???? :) Okay, some could and do, but God designed us to compliment our husbands in many ways and it is so special when we can see how God uniquely designed men and women according to His purposes for our lives.

I have to say that my "hats" as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt......and many more, have shaped me into the person I am today. I have to say, this recent "hat" of being a mother has shaped me and molded me more than any other! There have been many times that I have resisted the "molding" process, but God gently draws me back to Him and reminds me of His love, grace, and will for my life. May I be more pliable today and in the days to come!

Here are just a few pictures of my sweet pea...we were trying on some of his HATS for the coming summer :) Enjoy!

Laughs...

I know I commented last time about how much Caleb makes me (and my husband) laugh so much but today I laughed the hardest I have in a long time. He has gotten into the habit of sucking on his bottom lip and it is a riot every time I see it. It brings a smile to my face just thinking of it now. I started a photo shoot just wanting to capture that face and I ended up getting many more faces that made me laugh!!! I just wanted to share these photos with everyone....hope they bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart as it did mine! Just one of the many joys of motherhood!!!! Enjoy!

What a silly boy! Makes me laugh every time!


This one is a RIOT!!!

Being away...

Well this past weekend was my first "overnighter" at my parent's house in Mt. Pleasant without Kirk and Caleb. It went surprisingly well. Although I did cry when I left. I thought for sure I would have those dreams where he wakes up and is screaming and I wonder how long he has been screaming, but I didn't....I slept very well (PRAISE GOD!). Kirk was here in Grand Rapids with Caleb for Friday night and all day Saturday. If nothing else, I told him it would make him appreciate what I do every day. I really do think he enjoyed it though! I thought it was funny when I came home in the evening and he hadn't showered yet that day:) I got a good laugh out of that.

As I was leaving I was realizing that no matter how much mom's (including me) need a break from our kids now and again.....and we actually look forward to it....it can be hard to separate from them. All week I was SO looking forward to not having to tote him around with me and when it came time to actually leave, I was heartbroken. I knew he would be in good hands with Kirk but it was hard to leave. The time was very much needed and very relaxing, but it was hard to initially leave. I sure love him and I am glad I get to be home with him at this stage of his life.

When I did get home it was nice to have Caleb give me a BIG grin and welcome me back. It is so much fun that he recognizes me and knows when I am gone. It really touched my heart when he looked up and let out a little squeal when he first saw me. It made it all worth while. It was so great to be home again....it made me appreciate the good days and hard days and relalize what a blessing it is to be with him.

How much fun it is to be a mom! What a blessing our kids are. God has blessed moms with a special bond with their kids and I am no different.

Just some things on my mind....

Beauty from Ashes...

It is amazing how much my son makes me smile and laugh. There is so much joy in children and mine is no different. They are so innocent and small but they are full of joy. I love the times when my son will be playing with his toys and just simply look up at me and smile. It seems to come for no reason but the fact that I am there looking at him. His whole face lights up and he lets out a small shriek. Sometimes I wonder what he would say if he could talk. I imagine him telling me "Thanks, mom, for always being here with me!"......but who knows :)

It is such a joy to see children grow and discover the world around them. Caleb is so funny when he plays with one specific toy....it's a duck that has a rattle inside and there is a tag on the underside. He always manages to find that tag and look at it very intently (sometimes for a couple minutes). When he notices you looking at him (and sometimes Kirk and I laugh a bit) he will just carry on playing like nothing ever happened. We always get a good laugh out of that.

Caleb has also learned how to do "pull ups" in his swing. It is as if he thinks there is something else just on the other side of the swing that he needs to see.....it cracks me up every time.
















Oh, what a fun age 6 months is! I look back at some of the previous blogs and realize how fast time flies. It seemed like just yesterday we were struggling with nap times, eating difficulties, not sleeping well at night, and wondering if I was going insane :)......now, it seems that things have turned around (although there are still daily struggles, don't get me wrong). The feelings of helplessness have turned into a joy filled heart; tears of despair and heartache have now become tears of joy in realizing what an amazing gift I have in my son; the frustrated feelings have turned into a bit of sadness as I realize that my "little baby" is now getting bigger (he can no longer fit in the crook of my arm to eat)! Oh how the times flies!

I praise God for this time in my life. There have been so many difficult and painful times that are now being followed with a joyful heart and sounds of joy (and sometimes joyful screams!:) from my son. I know there will be more difficult times to come, but I rejoice in knowing that God went and continues to go through those valleys with me and brings me up to the peak of the mountain after molding me and shaping me into a new person. I am humbled and blessed by His amazing love for me. What a precious gift I have been given in Caleb!

---kinda random and scattered thoughts today but just some things on my heart :) Thanks for listening.

Christmas time...

Okay so I know Christmas is over but since I was so busy with family and friends, it is now time to reflect and write down some of my feelings....

One thing that really warmed my heart on Christmas (actually the 28th because that is when we had Christmas with the Reid's) was when my dad (AKA Papa) read the Christmas story. Just before he read the Christmas story he talked to the kids (my niece and nephew who are 4 and 2). He asked them why we celebrate Christmas and why we give gifts.....the kids responded "Because it's Jesus' birthday!!!" (with MUCH enthusiasm). It just warmed my heart 1) because it brought back so many memories of when dad used to talk to us when we were little about the importance of Christmas and why it was such a joy for him and Mom to give us gifts every year. 2) It warmed my heart because I could see how my dad is now passing down that joy of giving gifts to he is grandkids. He is showing them how important Christmas is because God sent His ONLY Son to come to this earth as a small baby. It was so heart warming to hear my niece and nephew get so excited about Jesus' birthday.

As I started getting tears in my eyes, I just couldn't wait to hear my son say "BECAUSE IT'S JESUS' BIRTHDAY!" I can't wait to see the joy on his face when he opens presents......I pray that he will know at a young age why we celebrate Christmas and what a special time it is.

We also were able to make a cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! It was so much fun to see the joy on the kids faces as they celebrated this birthday with all of us. Even though the 'guest of honor' (Jesus) was not physically there, they had just as much fun singing to Him and enjoying the real reason of Christmas......I look forward to doing that with my son!!! What an honor to show little ones the real meaning of why we celebrate and give gifts on Christmas!