The Baby Birds Outside Our Window

I've mentioned the mockingbirds in the crape myrtle outside of our playroom window. I've been watching them for weeks. I'm not sure if this is the mom or dad, but it is one of the parents. I almost feel guilty for trying to take pictures. This little thing dive-bombed me in attempt to protect the little ones. I'm actually still a little shaken by that...but I shouldn't have been so nosy.

Look how sweet! This is actually taken from about four feet away from the crape myrtle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSHUA

Dear Joshua,

 

Can I just say, that I thought it was awesome this morning that you wanted a fork for eating your cake. Daddy and I could have just sat you at the table like a big boy...because you are a big boy!



 

 



I have the best job in the world. I get to be your mommy all day, every day. It is my dream job. Maybe one day you'll be curious as to what we did all day when you were one. Or maybe one day I'll be curious as to what we did, so I'm going to record it here.

7:00 you wake up

7:30 you eat breakfast. You like cheese, cheerios, yogurt and a smoothie

Breakfast time is our Bible time. We sing BIBLE and go through our Bible story cards. You particularly like the 10th commandment where we scrunch our fingers and say "Do not covet." I need to hear that because it's hard not to covet. We need our Savior. Oh how we need Him!

8:00 we play...in the playroom or outside. You LOVE being outside!

11:00 you eat lunch

11:30 you take a nap

about 2:30-3:30 you wake up, eat a snack, and play

5:30-6:30 you eat supper and take a bath

7:00 we read one Bible story, pray, it's bedtime

 

 

 



Joshua's First Birthday Party

Nathan and I decided in January that we wanted to celebrate Joshua's first birthday with a party at Seavy Park in Senoia. They have a fabulous little house that is air conditioned and has a full kitchen. We decided the theme should be Curious George because, well, Joshua is a very curious toddler as well as the fact that we hope he is always as curious about life and God's creation as he is today. In fact, I pray that I never do anything to discourage his hunger to explore and seek adventure. So, Curious George...everything...for his first birthday.

 

 

 

 

I got to snap some pictures of the tables before family and friends arrived.

 



 

Our friend, Karen, made his cake. It was delicious; however, he wasn't crazy about having icing on his hands. He usually doesn't like something the first time he tastes it...so, he wasn't crazy about bday cake. :)

A Look Back

This time exactly one year ago, I was watering my yard, loading the car, waiting on my mother to arrive at our home, and getting ready to go to bed EXTREMELY early. I was blessed with an induced delivery which enabled me to pack, shop, clean, and sleep prior to experiencing one of life's greatest moments.

I held the water hose by the landscaped island in front of the garden and spoke with one more friend on the phone who asked specifically how she could pray for me. I waddled inside took one more bath, ate one last meal, and climbed into my living room recliner (where I'd been sleeping since April). It was my last night to feel Joshua move inside of me (although he was pretty cramped and moving must have been difficult for him).

Early, early the next morning (at 3:30) I awoke, showered, and dressed. Nathan, my mom, and I (and Joshua too) drove the hospital before dawn. We parked on the east side. My mom said her good byes and waited in the downstairs cafeteria area. Nathan and I entered into labor and delivery. Two tired looking nurses gave me an IV which started labor. I was scared. They looked tired and said very little. But an hour later, they got off work and the daytime nurses arrived. My spirits were lifted as these two called me "sweetheart" and "darling" and teased Nathan about everything (sarcasm is one of his love languages I think).

I watched the sunrise through the window of the delivery room. I felt at peace and was in minimal pain for the better part of the morning. What I experienced until my water was broken basically was strong cramping.

Today as I record this story, Joshua and I are watching a family of mockingbirds housed in a nest hidden in crape myrtle branches. The momma and the daddy fly in and out of the nest feeding their baby (I think there is only one).

In and out.
In and out.
In and out flies the daddy bird.
Feeding his
baby bird
all good things.

In and out.
In and out.
In and out flies the mommy bird.
Feeding her
baby bird
all good things.

Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus makes the baby birds
He gives them,
gives them
all good things.

Trust Him
trust Him,
trust Him, He love you.
He gives you,
gives you,
all good things.

My labor began at 6 am, Dr. Ralston broke my water at 10 am, then the real pain began...until they gave me an epidural.

Today Joshua and I are sitting in his playroom. Thunderclouds are booming outside and we may get rain for the second day in a row (something that is such a blessing in the summertime). He is walking very well and mimics many of my actions. The latest today, he tried to use the nasal aspirator on my nose, stick it to my face, and then wipe it on a cloth.

We celebrated his birthday Saturday with family and a few friends. Pictures to come :).

God is providing in the most tender ways financially. Just Monday our well broke...yikes! God sent the kindest man who promptly came and fixed it. I became more educated on how a well works through his teaching spirit. We had what we needed when we needed it. Just like a baby bird opening our mouths wide...we're receiving it...by faith through grace.

We are in the midst of adoption paperwork. So far we think we're making very good progress. Our home study awaits approval from Bethany's global branch. We have all other documents for our dossier. I plan to have notarized documents authenticated next week. Then we hope to have the dossier state sealed within a couple weeks. That's the undate on adoption. Motherhood is sweet. 

Encouragement for Motherhood

Here are some posts that I would like to easily find when I need encouragement.

Charles Spurgeon's Mother

A Mother's Power

Motherhood is Victory

Oh there are more, I just wanted to name a few so that I can easily find them.

A Year Ago Today

So many of these posts are for the sake of keeping an online journal. I've heard other friends say this, and for me it's become reality as well: this blog is basically Joshua's baby book. I have a keepsake box and a book, but I type so much quicker than I write.

This day last year I was VERY pregnant and so ready to meet our little boy face to face. How precious was the feeling of his movement inside my tummy. But I'll never forget Nathan pulling Joshua out of me and laying him on my tummy, his head was on my left side. His eyes were open and he wasn't crying until Nathan rubbed him down and he began SCREAMING. He has GOOD healthy lungs!

Here's what I wrote in my journal this time June 2012:

Father,
It's 3:13 am and I'm up again. We had a great time tonight and I'm glad Mama spent the night. I'm having contractions but I don't really know what my body is doing. Kelli and I are about the same dilated and are scheduled for induction Wednesday morning. Denise and Randy are fun to hear...they have to be excited and stressed at the same time. I pray for safe deliveries for Joshua and Reagan. Please fill me with your Spirit. Ezekiel 28:1-10   I must never forget that my life-anyone's life- is not in my hands. You are sovereign. You speak and it comes to be. I am nothing--I have no power. Any resources-any-beauty- is directly from You. By faith I proceed. By faith I prepare our home today. By faith I go to the doctor tomorrow, drop off our pets, shop at the store, and go to bed early. By faith I will go through the pain of childbirth . By faith I will bring Joshua home and be his mother.

And God is faithful. (and by grace I was given that blessed epidural and didn't have to go through the pain ;)  And one year later I'm still figuring out His will as I go.

Little man will be one year old in one week exactly. He's walking very well now. He's precious!

Raeann Linville

Sadly, Nathan, Joshua, and I plan to travel to Scottsboro this evening. Our family member, Raeann Linville, passed away last night. She leaves behind a husband and two precious little boys. Pray for the family as I really can't imagine what they're going through.

Muddy Motivation

It's Joshua's naptime, so I have a chance to do some reading. Here's a blog I found today that is full of ideas. He loves playing outside, as do I. The past couple of days have been wet, not necessarily stormy, just wet. Therefore, I haven't let him play outside, frankly, because I've been too lazy to clean up his muddy hands, legs, feet, and possibly face to come back inside. Here's a post that motivates me to go ahead and let him get muddy, even if he is still crawling around in it instead of walking.

Disclaimer: I have NO idea if this information is accurate, I just like playing outside and this provides some motivation to keep playing. ;)
The Dirt on Dirt: How Getting Dirty Makes for Healthy Kids

When he wakes up, we're going outside.

Just for Fun

This being Joshua's birth month, I thought I'd have a little fun with Nathan and my baby pictures. So I found pictures of us that Joshua resembles (or at least I think so). Joshua looks like, well himself, but there are traces of us in his personality. What do you think? :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Just Like That, He Took Four Steps

He's been pulling up since he was 8 months old. He's been pushing toys around walking behind them since 10 months. I've started to anticipate his first steps. Joshua let go of the chair a week and a half ago and took a half a step, but I didn't really count that. Two Thursdays ago he stood on his own for the first time holding onto nothing. I was amazed.

Tonight just as I was telling my mom on the phone that he seems to have little interest in walking, he let go of my hand and took three steps. Then he fell to the floor, I pulled him back up, and he took four steps.

Just like that. He's walking. He didn't walk any more this evening (because he didn't want to). He loves crawling.

So tonight was his first. And my first. I've never seen a child's first steps before. Miraculous. How does that happen?