16 Has Never Been So Sweet!

In His 16th Month, Samuel:
Still weighed 22 lbs.
Was 30.5 inches tall.
Walked full time...  still wobbly.
Wore size 12 month clothes.  STILL.
Wore a size 5 or 5 1/2 extra wide in shoes.
In size 4 diapers.
Had really sensitive skin.
Disliked heat and outdoors.
Was extremely shy.
Preferred his Mom and Dad over anybody.
Was not a fan of anyone.
Liked to be left alone.
Hated being pushed or bothered.
Was climbing on everything!
Loved Mommy's jewelry.
Like pretending to drive.
Was walking all over the place.
Often blew kisses.
Waved bye-bye a lot!
Loved to be going.
Always was pretending to pray.
Learned that Aunt Ca got married!
Became pretty smitten with Uncle Dustin.

Some of Samuel's Firsts Happened this Month:

• Drank from a straw
• Told us he had pee-peed in his diaper
• Ate his first Oreo.

Favorite Things:
Food(s):  sweets, cake
Toy(s): balls, books, red car, and Elmo
Show(s): Sesame Street
Movie(s): Elmo in Grouchland, Cars
Snack: goldfish, raisins, chips
Song: I'm a Little Teapot
Words He was Saying: hi. ball. bye-bye. night. daddy. momma. cup. caw (car). go. mik (milk). Pa (grandpa). Ca (aunt jessica). Mimi.  hun-gee (hungry).  Dan-yule (Daniel).  Amen.  tank you.  peez (please).
Thing to Do:  play alone, watch movies, ride in the red cozy coupe
People: Daddy and Mommy

Some Other 16th Month Highlights:

Climbing the couch with Daniel

Taking a bath with Brother

Sweet, smiling Samuel

Riding in his red car

Flying in the dark

Getting hugged (or choked) by Daniel

How he got this bag of chips, I'll never know!

After his first Oreo

Drinking milkshake from a straw

Reading with Pop

"Driving" Pa's farm truck

"Praying" before desert

29 Months Old!

In His 289h Month, Daniel:Weighed 31 lbs.
Wore 2T clothes.
Wore a size 8 or 8 1/2 in shoes.
Still in size 4 diapers...
Liked to wear sunglasses.
Enjoyed taking pictures.
Loved driving his tractor.
Especially if Samuel would ride in the back!
Hated for his hands to be dirty.
Loved to pretend to drive cars and trucks.
Was big on dressing himself.
Would NOT pee in the potty.
Liked being naked.
Was extremely bossy and demanding.
Never took naps unless he FELL OUT.
Celebrated his Aunt Jessica's wedding!
Loved his Uncle Dustin.
Asked for Dustin ALL.THE.TIME.
Loved to be playing outside.

Was often found:

• lining up his trains and cars
• sneaking under the beds
• making messes
• taking his diaper off
• pointing and bossing
• standing/playing naked
• throwing fits
• begging to watch movies
• avoiding naps and sleep
• saying his Bible verse, Be kind and loving to each other.

Some of Daniel's Favorite Things:
Food(s):  Whatever he could sneak for himself!
Toy(s): Thomas trains
Show(s): The Backyardigans, Dora, and VeggieTales
Movie(s):  The Backyardigans' Mission to Mars
Snack(s):  gummy snacks
Song(s):  Thomas theme song (new rap version)
Color(s): Blue and Green
Thing to Do: Jumping, Running, Laughing
People: Mimi, Natalie, Ca, Bekah, Pa, and Pop

Popular Phrases and Words of the Month:

• No, it's MINE!
• Go to Mimi's house.
• Let's go!
• I need you.
• It funny.
• Bye, I love you.
• Look at me!

Other Big Things from Daniel's 29th Month:

Making some very long train lines in the living room

Driving in the sun room

Getting in a naked nap

Driving Mister Samuel around the backyard

Loved visits from Pop

Playing with Pa in his farm truck

Noticing his hands had gotten dirty in Pa's truck

Eating his favorite thing at Addy's 3rd birthday party

Or Calls Me Home...

As I sit quietly on the living room couch, with our two babies tucked in tight and my husband enjoying the middle of the bed, I realize how blessed I am.  Just today, I heard "I love you" three times in a row from my two-year-old and had dinner with some very dear friends, but also occuring today was a dear man of the faith being laid to rest.  While I know he is rejoicing this very second upon such sights I cannot fathom, I cannot help but wonder what his sweet wife is feeling without him.

His passing (and many others recently) has me fearful over losing those I love.  The adversary seems to find ways to make me question God's sovereignty, and I tend to get weak when he tugs at my heart.  Just last night, I dreamed that I woke up without Daniel, and tonight as Brian and I talked about our day, I got teary-eyed when we discussed what we'd do without the other.  He told me I would be fine, but I couldn't imagine it...

While I know that God is in complete control, I can't help but be human and fear what is to come.  I know there will be loss.  I realize there is a chance I'll out live our children.  I understand that our children already only have one set of grandparents.  I am very aware that I'm not guaranteed tomorrow.  What I have is now.  This very moment.

In this very moment, I have all I never pictured I would.  I have the most amazing husband who loves me for me.  He accepts me just as I am and loves me with his words.  I have two beautiful boys who literally make my heart joyous at the thought of them.  Their laughter and love make me want to be a better person for their sake.  I have a heavenly Father who lavishes His love on me on a constant basis.  He saved me from my sins when I cried out to Him as a 10-year-old girl. I have more than I need here in our home.  I'm spoiled rotten with material things.  I have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is open to love. 

Tomorrow is another day, and while God very well may choose to change all I've been given, I am going to rest in the One who holds the world in the palm of His hand.  I'm going to sleep peacefully, knowing that if I do not wake, He has prepared for me a home in heaven. If I lose everyone I love, I still have Christ.  He will always be my Comforter, my all in all.  In Him, I can truly live without the fear of death.  May we all see our blessings in life and use them for His glory until He comes back or calls me home.

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

Daniel-isms

Okay, life with a two-year-old is tough at times...  You know with the temper tantrums and potty training and the rough hits and determination of an ox?!  Well, maybe that's just our two-year-old, and he is teaching us all about the "terrible twos."  However, there are times when this kid literally makes us laugh so hard and love so much that we forget how awful the moments before actually were. 

Case(s) and point(s):

• While riding in his car seat on the way home from church, Daniel kept dropping his sippy cup onto the floor.  We'd bend back, pick it up, and give it to him for him to repeat the process.  He was thoroughly amused; we weren't as much.  In between tosses, he really was thirsty and was gulping down fruit punch.  So, it came as no surprise when I heard the first hiccup...  and another...  then the next...  and on and on until Daniel became quite frustrated with them.  He clearly stated, "Mommy, I chokin'."  I said, "No, you're not, honey; you've got hiccups."  To which he replied, "Mommy, I chokin'."  As the hiccups got stronger, his patience was thinning, and he was very upset and yelled, "Mommy, no hiccup.  I CHOKIN'!"
• Daniel's story-telling skills are really picking up as of lately.  Why, just Tuesday while the boys were at Mother's Day Out, and Samuel took a pretty rough fall.  How do I know this?  Well, it's a whopping five days later, and upon seeing any one he knows, Daniel STILL begins with this, "Uh, Samuel fall down on the ground at school, and....."  I promise, he has told that same "story" over a hundred times in five days, and it seems brand new to him every single time.  And for the record, Samuel didn't cry when he fell at school; in fact, he doesn't even have a scratch!
• Daniel has become quite the boss around here.  Or at least he believes he has.  We hear these a lot:  "Be quiet, Mommy."  "Daddy, stop it."  "Watch Thomas, Mommy."  "Samuel, be quiet.  Stop it.  Shhhh." 
• Daniel speaks in first person right now.  It is hard to take him seriously when he talks as if he's someone else because it is SO hilarious.  Last night as we ate dinner at Chick fil A, the "carnival" was in town right beside the parking lot.  Daniel was very intrigued by the ferris wheel and its amazing lights.  He watched from the restaurant doors, saying, "Daniel ride that.  Daniel sit on it.  Daniel go to it.  Daniel want to ride it now." 
• Daniel is beginning to potty train.  While we haven't yet forced it, he has just started showing interest and going on his own...  in the potty...  without help from any one.  Anyway, we've tried to get Daniel excited about the process with "big boy" underwear and Pull-ups, but let's face it, they equal big messes that make HIM laugh so we've opted for the cheap brand of diapers for him until we move on...  Let's just say, they do not work. Just Tuesday night as we were out shoppng as a family, Daniel rode on my back in the Beco, and discovering some awesome clearance buys in the kids' section, I suddenly felt moisture running down my back.  He had peed right through those Pull-ups!  As I took Daniel to clean up the mess, I kept asking him, "Where does pee go?  Why is Mommy wet?"  He answered, "In the potty.  Not Mommy."  Here I was in a public place with my child's pee ALL DOWN MY BACK and PANTS.  Worse part, I didn't have any extra clothes for Daniel OR myself, so with a pantless Daniel strapped again onto my wet back, he and I finished shopping and headed to the checkout! 
• HOWEVER, this was not our only encounter with pee this week.  Tonight at church during singing practice, Daniel sat cheerfully on Daddy's lap while we sang.  It wasn't very long into the service when Brian looked over at me with the deer in headlights look...  He mouthed, "He's peeing on me!"  I thought he was kidding, that is, until I noticed Brian's suit's pant leg was soaking wet.  It looked as though it was BRIAN who'd had the accident.  He sat there with that look on his face for what seemed like hours, as he tried to figure out what to do next.  Daniel hadn't moved.  He was just fine now that he'd released that burden.  :)  I too hadn't moved.  I was laughing so hard I didn't think to move or help.  When I came around to noticing Brian needed my help, I picked up Daniel and headed to the nursery.  Every step of the way, Daniel reminded me, "I pee on Daddy."  Brian thankfully had an extra set of clothes in the car (which, by the way, was a t-shirt, khaki shorts, and Crocs) but when we got to the car, Daniel made certain we hadn't forgotten what had happened in church, laughing and saying, "Daddy, I pee-pee. I pee on Daddy."

15 Months and Big Things Happen

In His 15th Month, Samuel:
Weighed 22 lbs. (25th percentile)
Was 30.5 inches tall. (25th percentile)
Walked full time...  No more crawling.
Wore size 12 clothes.
Wore a size 5 extra wide in shoes.
In size 4 diapers.
Had really sensitive skin.
Disliked heat and outdoors.
Got his 15 month shots.
Visited Dyersburg and his family for the first time.
Took a long 8 hour road trip to Missouri!
Got to see his church buddy, Lincoln.
Loved playing with Lincoln.
Ate his first Lambert's roll!
Went to Silver Dollar City.
Hated it.
Met the Backyardigans!
Rode the Carousel and enjoyed it!
Really liked Elmo and Timmy (some little lamb show).
Started giving kisses.  Awww.
Was beginning to get fairly vocal.
Threw fits when he didn't get his way.
Was an amazing eater!
Began Mother's Day Out.
Was the youngest in his class! 
Didn't cry when Mommy dropped him off!
Was a great sleeper!
Began climbing.  Yikes.
Started hitting Daniel back!
Loved. his. Daddy. so. much.


Some of Samuel's Firsts Happened this Month:

• Ate with a spoon
• Had his first day of Mother's Day Out
• Got his first busted lip
• First time we ever saw blood
• First ride ever ridden (Carousel)

Favorite Things:Food(s): watermelon, peaches
Toy(s):  balls, train tracks, elmo
Show(s): Sesame Street, Timmy Time
Movie(s): Elmo in Grouchland 
Snack:  goldfish, applesauce in a pouch
Song: I'm a Little Teapot and Jesus Loves Me, Me, Me
Words He was Saying:  hi.  ball.  bye-bye.  night.  daddy.  momma.  cup.  caw (car).  go.  mik (milk).  Pa (grandpa).  Ca (aunt jessica).  Mimi.
Thing to Do:  be held, play alone, watch movies, ride in the red cozy coupe.
People:   Daddy!

Some Other 15th Month Highlights:

Playing with Buddy at Aunt Dina's house

Getting love from Aunt Pattie

First trip to McAllister's for sweet tea!

Eating the throwed rolls with Lincoln

at Lambert's

Pointing at the deer/elk (?) at the largest

Bass Pro Shop in the U.S.

Riding the shuttle with Daddy

to Silver Dollar City

Rosy, hot cheeks at Silver Dollar City

Unimpressed with the Backyardigans

His favorite spot at SDC...

The ball area.

Eating cookies and saying bye to his buddy, Lincoln.

Eating rolls and looking like Mommy

at our 2nd Lamberts' stop (on the trip)

Playing with big brother is

beginning to be fun.

At his friend, Seth's first birthday party!

His first busted, bloody lips.

:(

His very first MDO bag!

First day of Mother's Day Out...

Daniel was telling Samuel to, "Cheese!"

Looking like a really big, little boy at MDO.