Who Does Hannah Look Like?

Luke

Faith

Hannah

I am constantly asked who I think Hannah looks like. See for yourself. All of these pictures are of the kids at about 3 months old. I will post under "comments" my opinion.

Sunday and Hannah Update

This is how my family really is...constantly cutting up! :-)

Can you say, "Daddy's girl?" Look how big Luke looks!

Faith...always watching her big brother!

So handsome...there is absolutely NO baby left in Luke. Man he's cute!

Silly boy. I know you can't tell, but he is cracking up in this picture.

So smiley!

Beautiful.

Hmmmmm...who does she look like?

She's already getting so big!

Cutest baby on the planet!

Sunday was Hannah's 3 month birthday. Can you believe how fast 3 months has gone by? She smiles, coos, rolls over from front to back and occasionally rolls from back to front, and has officially found her feet and hands. Not to mention that she has been sleeping through the night for 2 months already. Best baby ever!

So anyway, I took some pictures of Hannah and the kids and Tyron before church. So fun.

I love my family!

Ode To My Babies

Being a mom is the best job in the world. It always makes me a little sad when people say that their high school/college years were the "best days of their lives." My life is richer, more meaningful, more fun, more exciting, and a daily adventure because of my husband and kids. These are the best days of my life...so far. So, in honor of my three amazing kids I am going to give you 5 (even though there are waaaaaayyyyyyyy more) things I love about my babies.

Luke

1. Literally the sweetest kid in the world. There is not 1 mean bone in his little body.

2. His eyes are the exact same shade of blue as Tyron's.

3. He still loves to be held. He comes to me and asks, "Mom, can I hold you?"

4. He is FIERCELY protective of Faith. They are best friends.

5. He has a freckle on the bottom of his left foot.

Faith

1. Faith is a go getter. Nothing stands in her way. FEARLESS.

2. She "momma's" her baby dolls the same way that I "momma" Hannah.

3. Every emotion that she feels is written on her beautiful face.

4. She loves to snuggle.

5. She still tucks her legs under and sticks her booty up in the air when she sleeps.

Hannah

1. The happiest baby in the world. If her eyes are open, she is smiling and cooing.

2. She already loves her Bubba and Sissy.

3. She cuddles her head right under my chin and holds onto the collar of my shirt...that is "her spot."

4. She looks like Luke and Faith.

5. She has a gentle spirit that goes with the flow.

My kids are my joy. I could have listed 150 things that I love about each of them. These are only 5 things. I am BEYOND blessed. Every day (even the hard ones) is an amazing and fulfilling adventure because I get to be with them.

MaKayla and Kyler

This is our niece and nephew. Turn your speakers on and enjoy!

The Bright Side of Stomach Bug...Seriously

I was fortunate enough to catch a nasty 36 hour stomach bug this weekend. Lucky...I know. Don't you wish that you could spend 36 hours worshipping the porcelain gods? Probably not, but let me tell you exactly why I feel like there is a bright side to this sick tummy.

How many times in life do things get bad enough that you literally throw yourself at the foot of God's throne and beg for mercy? I certainly don't tend to lay at the foot of the throne as often as I should...until something hard happens. I tend to think that I have my every day life completely under control. I go grocery shopping, to play dates, teach my kids the ABC's and 123's, cook dinner, deal with money issues, go to Bible Study, talk to friends, talk to family, sleep, eat, do the 4,322 loads of laundry that accumulate over a period of 1 week, and the list goes on and on and on. Life is good...I say God is control, but who am I kidding? I've got this life thing down pat, man!

Until I catch a stomach bug. Then I realize that life (or shall we say my pride/self) has inched it's way into the center of my very own personal sanctuary. Friends...I'm pretty sure you spell that with a I-D-O-L. Instead of focusing on my God who truly is in control I focus on MY life, MY husband, MY kids, MY chores, MY everything! Ugh! How did it get this way? I sometimes get so busy living life that I forget that everything that is "mine" here on earth is simply on loan to me by the God who created it all.

So, sometimes I have to get a stomach bug so that I will remember that God is my focus and that I need to be on my face worshiping the LORD of Lords and KING of Kings. It's not about me, it's about HIM. Sometimes discipline has to suck to work. Throwing up sucks, so maybe God will do a work in me to help me remember this most important lesson. After all, there are a billion better places to worship the LORD than laying in the bathroom floor...sometimes that is just where we have to start out to be put in our rightful place.

Psalm 27:4(b)

"...that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his holy temple."

Beautiful Faith

I can't believe that Faith is about to be 2! She is turning into the most beautiful little girl. She has such a sweet spirit. You can read every emotion on her sweet little face. I am so proud of her. Each day of the past 2 years has been so much better just because she has been a part of it. She has taught me way more than I could have ever thought about teaching her. She is such a blessing! By the way, she posed all by herself...talk about a camera ham!

Hollywood Hannah

Here are a few pictures that I took of Hannah on Saturday. She is getting so big!

Madison Marshall (My Niece) 17 Months Old

Terrible Two's

We have officially hit the "Terrible Two's" with Faith. I am sure that many of you reading this have gone through something similar. This is a first for me because Luke has had his moments, but we never had an extended period of time where he was what I would consider to be going through the "terrible two's." However, Faith is pushing every boundary, asserting her independence no matter how many "safe" choices she is given, and choosing to ignore every order/request/plea that comes her way. It seems that she has a mind of her own, complete with ideas and opinions on how her little world should be run. After all, she is the master and commander of her little ship, right? Sound familiar? It sure does to me.

A wise woman who was in an old small group of mine once told me that she firmly believes that as a mom you are sanctified through your children. Now, don't panic and start flipping through your copy of Systematic Theology just yet. She wasn't saying that you have to have children to be saved or anything even remotely close. She was saying that through disciplining your kids, losing your patience, being at the end of a sometimes very short and fraying rope you have to opportunity to recognize the same disobedience, pride, disrespectful independence, and a myriad of other sins in yourself that you witness daily in your kids. This is an opportunity for us to be refined. I confess...most of the time I am still in my "Terrible Two's!" Spiritually speaking anyway. God willing, I will learn some lessons right along side my kids. The first lesson - I can do nothing apart from God.

Here is a little encouragement for you (and me) on the days when it is a battle to be a stay at home mom or a working mom or any kind of mom:

"Love always hopes in the freshness of tomorrow, the great goodness of God, and the bright future of the family."

- Cindy Sigler Dagnan

Here's to the freshness of tomorrow and having the God of all gods on our side.

Amen sister-friends!!