7 months

Today, my little man is 7 months old. You know the saying that "days last forever, but the months fly by". This certainly holds true for my sweet baby. Each day is an adventure with trying to figure out how to best meet his needs, but then I look back and months have FLOWN by. I feel like so much time has already gone by that his precious baby days are flying by too fast. Never again will he only need me like he does right now. I am trying to focus on the precious time we have rather than all the "lasts" that are taking place. I thank God for the gift of this angel in my life, who is teaching me more and more each day. (Who knew I had so much to learn about babies with 4 under my belt).

Speaks with Good Purpose

Each 9 weeks at school there is an awards assembly. They hand out awards for Math, Reading,and Biggest Improvement. This year they added some character awards. Each 9 weeks they focus on a Quantum Learning aspect. This 9 weeks was Speaks with Good Purpose. I am very proud to say that my Callan received the award in his class for Speaks with Good Purpose. To me... it says a lot.

Summer Vacation 2009

Unfortunately we did not get a summer vacation squeezed in this year. It probably should have been priority, but between Brent's Mission Trip in May, Baylor's baseball season that lasted from April until July, and the birth of our 5th child (and add in a little tight budget) it just fell to the way side. So when the opportunity came for us to go to the beach for the long weekend we jumped at the chance. My brother and his family live there and they added a little baby girl to their family in November. We had not gotten to meet her yet, and this was the PERFECT opportunity.

So we packed up and headed to the beach. We got to stay at a HUGE house courtsey of some family friends who needed Brent to look at it for possibly adding some stucco to it. Unfortunately, we went during one of the only cold spells of the year that Florida gets. The teps did not get above 50 and the winds were gusting over 40 miles an hour. My toes did not touch the sand... but my hands got to hold my precious 2 month old niece (a little... when Nommie would put her down). We did have a good time together, I just wish it were more often.
In the Hot Tub
NOT in the Hot Tub =)
What "beach air" does to Cruz's hair. He kept this curl on top all weekend.

Heartache

I want to post about our quick trip to the beach to see my brother's family. But this morning my heart is hurting. I don't know if it is all my sweet friends that just got back from Africa talking about the hurting and hungry children there, I don't know if it is all that is going on in Haiti, or even if it is that my heart still longs for the orphans in Guatemala and Central America. But I know that I am choking down the emotions and wishing that I could just scoop up a few and love on them no matter where they are this morning. I know the answer is not just bringing home one or two to love on and be your own. I know so much more needs to be done. But sitting here this morning, I feel so helpless to such a big task at hand. It is like you don't even know where to start. So today, I sit and cry for all the babies who need a Momma.

Nicaragua Trip

Here are more of Baylor's pictures. We are still working on another slide show that includes all of the video they took as well, but it is longer that we thought it would be and requiring a little more editing on my part. This one is only about 5 minutes. Baylor took most of the pictures.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Milestones

A few milestones to share.

Just a few weeks ago at Christmas, Cruz could not do this...

I love when they learn to sit. It has opened up a whole new world for him to be able to play. I also love that his posture is so good right now... won't be too long before he learns to slouch.





We have also introduced a cup.

"What do you do with this strange thing?"



"Jackpot!!!"

Fotos for Friday

Callan went to bed in his new long johns so he would have less to do when he got up to play in the predicted BIG snowfall. Thankfully they were happy with the little that was on the deck.


Eliza says "Mom, I col..."


Silas asked to play on the deck several times. He would get all dressed up, go out side and promptly come back in after about 3 minutes. (and when I say all dressed up YOU KNOW he was down to his skivvies so it took a lot of effort for that 3 minutes)



And this... because it cracks me up. Of all the places he has to play his new Leapster... in any choice of rooms. He chooses here, EVERYTIME (not just this time). You can find him here several times a day quietly playing his new game.