On January 15 Joey took his first two steps while he and I played in the living room. A little more than a month later, we finally pulled out the video camera to capture our new little toddler. He still has trouble making it more than the distance from one couch to the other on his own two feet, but he sure does love to try.
This act of becoming a walker has truly shown us how independent our little guy is. While we spent weeks trying to encourage him - standing the little man up and holding out our hands to him - he constantly plopped down on his rear to begin his crawl - every time. I finally decided he has his whole life to walk, so he might as well take advantage of the hands and knees approach as long as his knees are still padded enough to handle it. Because goodness knows that goes away all too quickly.
As with all things in life, it was at the moment of our surrender that he finally decided it was his time to shine. Within days he began to toddle the four steps between Mommy and Daddy (as captured in the below video) all on his own and only days after that he now regularly pushes himself to his own two feet, taking the halting steps in whichever direction he chooses. True, he still often gets over excited and quickly loses balance, and crawling his still his preferred method of transport, but let it be known our little guy can walk.
Which brings us to my big milestone - our youngest child can walk and I'm NOT currently incubating another. Such a big step for us all!
(Note: My favorite thing about this video, other than the evidence of his newest ability, is how encouraging his wonderful siblings are. These kids are my greatest gift.)
1,000 Steps:
1101. What once was a curse now is a blessing
1102. A sign I was made for this
1103. First (and second and third) steps
1104. Giving away and still having plenty to give
1105. Quiet times with kids
1106. Her enjoying the music
1107. A little boy offering to help (and doing it well)
1108. Fat flakes in our hair as we get groceries
1109. Grocery shopping with one kid at a time
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
26 February 2013
29 November 2012
Of Pausing to Remember
While meandering through my day, I stumbled upon this little video posted to Facebook:
Watching sent shivers through my skin and, eventually, brought tears streaming down my face. And I felt absolutely ridiculous - crying at a crowd of people singing in the mall? Really?
I could not peg down what was so emotional for me in this display.
"Because this is how it should be."
I felt the words in my soul and knew them to be true. It was for this we were created. To bring glory to God in all places, among all people. Not to restrain our chorus to the church pew or the kitchen counter (where I am most found singing in our home, if at all), but to declare Him to the world in every situation in every way.
This is how it should be.
His people. And those who don't even recognize Him as Lord. Stopping to acknowledge His name. Pausing our busy lives to worship, right where we are.
Oh that I would be so bold.
Watching sent shivers through my skin and, eventually, brought tears streaming down my face. And I felt absolutely ridiculous - crying at a crowd of people singing in the mall? Really?
I could not peg down what was so emotional for me in this display.
"Because this is how it should be."
I felt the words in my soul and knew them to be true. It was for this we were created. To bring glory to God in all places, among all people. Not to restrain our chorus to the church pew or the kitchen counter (where I am most found singing in our home, if at all), but to declare Him to the world in every situation in every way.
This is how it should be.
His people. And those who don't even recognize Him as Lord. Stopping to acknowledge His name. Pausing our busy lives to worship, right where we are.
Oh that I would be so bold.
13 November 2012
Of Nine Months with Joseph
Our littlest guy celebrated nine months of living yesterday. He celebrated in typical fashion - by living life as a nine-month-old, which is exciting enough, in itself, when there is still so much world to discover.
At this point one might normally be able to say he has been out of the womb as long as he was in it, but considering our little Joey stayed cozily tucked up inside me for a ten-day extension, we won't be able to say that until Thanksgiving (which is now nine days away, what?!).
Considering all the development which occurred in that first nine months and ten days of existence - proceeding from a tiny fertilized egg into a being with a beating heart, arms, legs, toes, fingers, eyelashes and a soft dusting of hair, 9.5 pounds of squirmy, squishy, sleepy baby - it's hard to imagine any more miracle packed into so short a time. Yet the nine months following his exit into our world have had their fair share of milestones.
He now has two teeth to boast of and even saw the scissors to his hair for the first time this past week (just for a little over-the-ears trim, nothing major). On top of using his hands and knees to transport himself wherever he would like to be, his new favorite is pulling up to get a closer look at all that used to be out of reach - like his brother's lollipop or Mommy's laptop.
He loves to giggle, grin, and, recently, wave "bye-bye." His tongue is his favorite toy, as he sticks it out (and in) in rapid succession, like a giant lizard, flips it over and under and all around works it for all it's worth. When he's sleepy, lately, he resembles a baby dinosaur, opening his mouth wide, tongue partially out, squawking for all to hear - sometimes a yawn is involved, other times not. When he's sad or hungry and wants my attention, he cries, "Mmamamamamamamaaaa!"
He is, by far, our most exploratory baby, often getting lost in one room or another before Mommy even realizes he's missing (blame it on being the third child). He loves finding new things and, of course, trying it all out in his mouth, feeling it out with that favored tongue.
He alternates between being a most amazing sleeper (13 hours or more) most of the time and spurts of waking Mommy at 4:30 in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He is our only so far to not have completely given up that early morning feeding, but I always know when it's growing time.
Considering when we first met face to face he was capable of little more than gazing, sleeping and eating - unable, even, to support his own head - I would say he has accomplished much in his, as yet, short little life. Looking forward to seeing what else our little Joseph Peter has in store for us.
Just to give a visual to a little of the above:
1,000 Gifts:
1018. Micaiah, picking up her baby brother
1019. Joseph investigating his sister's face while she sits placidly, watching television
1020. Emmett kneeling to kiss his sissy's face, wordlessly and randomly
1021. Watching a favorite show after a long hiatus - still a favorite
1022. Preparing for a new resident
1023. Finding just what we need at just the right time and place
1024. "Look, Mommy! He's standing on his feet!"
1025. Being pronounced "Super Mommy" by my beautiful daughter
At this point one might normally be able to say he has been out of the womb as long as he was in it, but considering our little Joey stayed cozily tucked up inside me for a ten-day extension, we won't be able to say that until Thanksgiving (which is now nine days away, what?!).
Considering all the development which occurred in that first nine months and ten days of existence - proceeding from a tiny fertilized egg into a being with a beating heart, arms, legs, toes, fingers, eyelashes and a soft dusting of hair, 9.5 pounds of squirmy, squishy, sleepy baby - it's hard to imagine any more miracle packed into so short a time. Yet the nine months following his exit into our world have had their fair share of milestones.
He now has two teeth to boast of and even saw the scissors to his hair for the first time this past week (just for a little over-the-ears trim, nothing major). On top of using his hands and knees to transport himself wherever he would like to be, his new favorite is pulling up to get a closer look at all that used to be out of reach - like his brother's lollipop or Mommy's laptop.
He loves to giggle, grin, and, recently, wave "bye-bye." His tongue is his favorite toy, as he sticks it out (and in) in rapid succession, like a giant lizard, flips it over and under and all around works it for all it's worth. When he's sleepy, lately, he resembles a baby dinosaur, opening his mouth wide, tongue partially out, squawking for all to hear - sometimes a yawn is involved, other times not. When he's sad or hungry and wants my attention, he cries, "Mmamamamamamamaaaa!"
He is, by far, our most exploratory baby, often getting lost in one room or another before Mommy even realizes he's missing (blame it on being the third child). He loves finding new things and, of course, trying it all out in his mouth, feeling it out with that favored tongue.
He alternates between being a most amazing sleeper (13 hours or more) most of the time and spurts of waking Mommy at 4:30 in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He is our only so far to not have completely given up that early morning feeding, but I always know when it's growing time.
Considering when we first met face to face he was capable of little more than gazing, sleeping and eating - unable, even, to support his own head - I would say he has accomplished much in his, as yet, short little life. Looking forward to seeing what else our little Joseph Peter has in store for us.
Just to give a visual to a little of the above:
1,000 Gifts:
1018. Micaiah, picking up her baby brother
1019. Joseph investigating his sister's face while she sits placidly, watching television
1020. Emmett kneeling to kiss his sissy's face, wordlessly and randomly
1021. Watching a favorite show after a long hiatus - still a favorite
1022. Preparing for a new resident
1023. Finding just what we need at just the right time and place
1024. "Look, Mommy! He's standing on his feet!"
1025. Being pronounced "Super Mommy" by my beautiful daughter
09 August 2012
Of Letting the Rhythm Move Her
I'm not sure if it was my first exposure to the sport, but one of the few things that stuck in my memory from watching the 1996 Summer Olympics (other than Kerri Strug's heroic vault, of course) was staying up until 2am (because I was twelve and it was summer, so why not, right?) and discovering Rhythmic Gymnasts (who were only aired during those wee hours of the morning, in the days long before DVR) twirl a ribbon through the air and do amazing contortions of their body through a hula hoop. I thought it was magical.
Since those middle school days of having no other life than lounging in front of the television until my eyelids were going to fall off, I have not had the ability to indulge in the once-every-four-years airing of this particular event (as, apparently, America has no investment in this sort of artistry at all) - until now.
Now that it's aired during the normal morning hours, reserved only for housewives and jobless college graduates who live with their mothers, I finally have the privilege of watching in awe, once again, as one slender dancer after another, adorned in glitter and spandex, makes a bouncing ball a fluid member of her own body.
And the best part this time around is having my four-year-old daughter sitting nearby, also marveling at this amazing feat. And when it's over? Seeing her pick up her own glitter-filled ball and attempt to hold it by sheer will on the inside of her knee, just like "the girls" did.
Everyday memories, sponsored by the Olympics (and NBC, of course).
(And just in case you need a reference point for any of the above to make sense)
1,000 Gifts:
738. Opening my fridge to see sprigs of parsley, fresh ground nut butters and salad fixings
739. A full fridge
740. Kissing boo-boos
741. A tiny, fleshy tongue sucking on my arm
742. "Secret Missions"
743. The Library
744. Renewing memories
Whole 30 - Day Two:
Breakfast: Egg Scrambled in Walnut Oil, Banana
Morning Snack: Apple with Almond Butter
Lunch: Leftovers from last night
Afternoon Snack: Frozen Blueberries, Strawberries and Bananas blended together (amazing!)
Dinner: Shaslik (Russian Kebabs - with chicken rather than lamb because lamb was too expensive and broiled, rather than grilled, because our grill is broken), Green Bean Bacon Bundles (minus the sugar and with Ghee rather than butter), Sliced Tomatoes
Today got rough when I gave the kids popcorn for snack (their diet isn't as hard-core as ours, though they have the same breakfast and dinner) and wanted just one kernel, but I held strong. Also, the Whole 30 plan discourages against snacks, but I'm a nursing momma who is donating a good portion of her calories to a certain little boy, leaving me hungry and shaking even after I finished breakfast, so I had to put those back in - I don't plan to rely on them, but I won't deny myself nourishment when my stomach is super angry. Finally, that dinner was about the most amazing thing I've ever made/eaten - LOVED it!!! We'll be pulling that out again, and long after this Whole 30 is over, for sure.
Since those middle school days of having no other life than lounging in front of the television until my eyelids were going to fall off, I have not had the ability to indulge in the once-every-four-years airing of this particular event (as, apparently, America has no investment in this sort of artistry at all) - until now.
Now that it's aired during the normal morning hours, reserved only for housewives and jobless college graduates who live with their mothers, I finally have the privilege of watching in awe, once again, as one slender dancer after another, adorned in glitter and spandex, makes a bouncing ball a fluid member of her own body.
And the best part this time around is having my four-year-old daughter sitting nearby, also marveling at this amazing feat. And when it's over? Seeing her pick up her own glitter-filled ball and attempt to hold it by sheer will on the inside of her knee, just like "the girls" did.
Everyday memories, sponsored by the Olympics (and NBC, of course).
(And just in case you need a reference point for any of the above to make sense)
1,000 Gifts:
738. Opening my fridge to see sprigs of parsley, fresh ground nut butters and salad fixings
739. A full fridge
740. Kissing boo-boos
741. A tiny, fleshy tongue sucking on my arm
742. "Secret Missions"
743. The Library
744. Renewing memories
Whole 30 - Day Two:
Breakfast: Egg Scrambled in Walnut Oil, Banana
Morning Snack: Apple with Almond Butter
Lunch: Leftovers from last night
Afternoon Snack: Frozen Blueberries, Strawberries and Bananas blended together (amazing!)
Dinner: Shaslik (Russian Kebabs - with chicken rather than lamb because lamb was too expensive and broiled, rather than grilled, because our grill is broken), Green Bean Bacon Bundles (minus the sugar and with Ghee rather than butter), Sliced Tomatoes
Today got rough when I gave the kids popcorn for snack (their diet isn't as hard-core as ours, though they have the same breakfast and dinner) and wanted just one kernel, but I held strong. Also, the Whole 30 plan discourages against snacks, but I'm a nursing momma who is donating a good portion of her calories to a certain little boy, leaving me hungry and shaking even after I finished breakfast, so I had to put those back in - I don't plan to rely on them, but I won't deny myself nourishment when my stomach is super angry. Finally, that dinner was about the most amazing thing I've ever made/eaten - LOVED it!!! We'll be pulling that out again, and long after this Whole 30 is over, for sure.
06 May 2012
Of His Faithfulness
The music of Sunday mornings is my re-fueling time, it feels. To have those weekly moments of standing among a chorus of the saints - those fellow believers traveling alongside on this narrow road - as a harmony of voices worships my God with me - I simply feel as though I have been carried to His very throne, standing dirty and unworthy, but so loved.
It was in these moments this morning that God just continued to rip me open, breaking up further fallow ground - pointing out areas of residual bitterness and unforgiveness - unforgiveness that has been festering for years, decades even - and disobedience. I didn't know he could cover so many topics in one twenty-minute span, but our God is the God of the impossible. And suddenly I was broken.
But the theme that just kept echoing in my head was, "He is faithful." There are so many points in my life that I would once have considered hindrances to my walk, which He has completely turned around. Our God is faithful.
People on whom I might have given up have been changed. Relationships I might have considered lost have been restored. Bitterness erased. Forgiveness opened. Our God is Faithful.
One area of my life God has been working lately has been on my submission to my husband. To continue to work this point, I attended a short seminar at a conference our women's ministry hosted yesterday morning. The title of the seminar was, "There is Nothing Weak about Submission" - this title is so accurate as it takes a courageous woman to submit to another's will - to truly trust another to determine and protect one's best interests takes strength and humility.
At the end of our brief session, the dear friend who acted as instructor encouraged the handful of us in the room to remember: we get the easy part. We have simply been called to respect and submit - that's all.
Our husbands, however, have been commanded to love us, their brides, as Christ loved the church - unconditionally and sacrificially. Every moment of every day. To love in such a way is not easy. And yet, this is their charge. To love like Christ.
So, this morning, as I stood beside this man who has sworn to love me in such a way, I recalled how whiny and bitter I had been that very morning about our assignment to work in the church nursery, rather than attend Sunday School with our friends. I'll admit, we both hate these days (another point God was working on, but that's beside the point at the moment).
But as I complained, once more, my husband insisted, "You go to Sunday School; I'll go to the nursery by myself." And he was serious. Now, I, honestly, was not going to leave him alone in a room of toddlers, but the fact that he offered - the fact that he continually offers to do the unpleasant because he knows I don't want to. That's sacrifice. Daily. Daily he takes over what I have considered overwhelming, sacrificing his own wants and needs for rest, down-time, or even his own to-do list.
He is constantly sacrificing for me - even on the days when I have no right to complain.
Loving me the way the church is loved.
Loving me in a way I do not deserve and had even failed to notice most days.
To bless me with such a man - our God is faithful.
It was in these moments this morning that God just continued to rip me open, breaking up further fallow ground - pointing out areas of residual bitterness and unforgiveness - unforgiveness that has been festering for years, decades even - and disobedience. I didn't know he could cover so many topics in one twenty-minute span, but our God is the God of the impossible. And suddenly I was broken.
But the theme that just kept echoing in my head was, "He is faithful." There are so many points in my life that I would once have considered hindrances to my walk, which He has completely turned around. Our God is faithful.
People on whom I might have given up have been changed. Relationships I might have considered lost have been restored. Bitterness erased. Forgiveness opened. Our God is Faithful.
One area of my life God has been working lately has been on my submission to my husband. To continue to work this point, I attended a short seminar at a conference our women's ministry hosted yesterday morning. The title of the seminar was, "There is Nothing Weak about Submission" - this title is so accurate as it takes a courageous woman to submit to another's will - to truly trust another to determine and protect one's best interests takes strength and humility.
At the end of our brief session, the dear friend who acted as instructor encouraged the handful of us in the room to remember: we get the easy part. We have simply been called to respect and submit - that's all.
Our husbands, however, have been commanded to love us, their brides, as Christ loved the church - unconditionally and sacrificially. Every moment of every day. To love in such a way is not easy. And yet, this is their charge. To love like Christ.
So, this morning, as I stood beside this man who has sworn to love me in such a way, I recalled how whiny and bitter I had been that very morning about our assignment to work in the church nursery, rather than attend Sunday School with our friends. I'll admit, we both hate these days (another point God was working on, but that's beside the point at the moment).
But as I complained, once more, my husband insisted, "You go to Sunday School; I'll go to the nursery by myself." And he was serious. Now, I, honestly, was not going to leave him alone in a room of toddlers, but the fact that he offered - the fact that he continually offers to do the unpleasant because he knows I don't want to. That's sacrifice. Daily. Daily he takes over what I have considered overwhelming, sacrificing his own wants and needs for rest, down-time, or even his own to-do list.
He is constantly sacrificing for me - even on the days when I have no right to complain.
Loving me the way the church is loved.
Loving me in a way I do not deserve and had even failed to notice most days.
To bless me with such a man - our God is faithful.
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