Think Again, Daniel's Turning 10 (Months Old)

Breaking down the weeks of Daniel's life is getting incredibly impossible...  Maybe it's because I'm keeping up with the "weeks" of two babies now.  If you didn't already know it, Daniel's expecting a brother, and his Mommy is learning to get the hang of being organized while over 6 months pregnant and chasing after a 10 month old.  So, with that in mind, I'm going to give you a run down of the big events that occurred in Daniel's tenth month (instead of the "usual" week to week)!

In his 10th month:

He weighed 20 lbs and 14 oz.

He was 29 and a half inches long.

He wore size 4 diapers, 12-18 month clothes, and a 4 1/2 in shoes!

His Mommy turned 27!

He celebrated by having his Mimi and Aunt Jessica stay over.

He loved wearing his parents' Avatar 3D glasses.

 He visited his buddies:  Pierce and the twins, Connor and Clayton.

He tried his very first Oreo and loved it.

He "rode" on the elliptical machine with his Daddy.

 He witnessed his first REALLY BIG snow:  over 4 inches!

His Daddy built a family of Vanderbilt/Kentucky basketball-playing snowmen.

 He loved playing in the snow with Daddy!

He became a huge fan of Gerber biter biscuits!

They are a MESS!

 He got his third tooth!  It's on the top!

He had his first church service at home due to the snow.

He wore his pajamas to the service...

And ate the whole time at his high chair.

He liked eating the snow once it melted a little.

 

 

He learned to climb on top of things...

Notice how tall he is all thanks to his toy train!

His Grandpa taught him how to pull a rubberband and "pop" someone.

Daniel would just LAUGH and LAUGH!

 His parents bought him a jumperoo, and it has been fantastic!

We found the one thing that will make him sit still...  The Polar Express movie!

He got MORE snow and tried snow cream!

He got a monkey balloon from Daddy on Valentine's Day!

 He got tangled up in Mommy's balloons.

Here's Daniel with Mommy on Valentine's Day:

Here is his growing family on Valentine's;

Notice "Brother" is really starting to make his appearance:

His family got him books, movies, and lots of Elmo goodies!

He gave kisses all the time...

That is, with his mouth open wide and slobbering.

He stood and stood and stood...

He took LOTS of first steps, but never actually walked.

He went to his friend Greyson's 2nd birthday party!

He FINALLY started sleeping through the night this month...

He sleeps from 8 p.m. until 6:30-7:00 a.m. EVERY NIGHT!

He even takes two naps a day!
He also helped his Mommy shop for his 1st birthday party!

He spent a lot of time in his pjs and chewing on Mommy's necklaces.

He began trying table foods:  mashed potatoes, pasta, bread, mac and cheese, etc.

He tried the crust of some Cici's pizza and ATE IT UP.

 

Who Doesn't Love Pizza?! from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

Ready or Not

As Daniel and I napped one afternoon this week, just before I drifted off, I realized that Daniel wouldn't be our only child (here on earth) for much longer.  As exciting as that statement is, I almost teared up just thinking about it.  I worried over my capabilities as a parent and what life would be like with two children who will be less than 13-14 months apart, and the fear of continuing exhaustion that has been in full effect since last April when he was born almost overwhelmed me.

That is, until this precious, first-born son of mine, snuggled up close to my chest, and I suddenly felt his sweet, growing brother gently nudge his older sibling from my inside.  For what seemed like hours, I laid in awe of this little being (25 weeks and counting) and how he was "communicating" with both Daniel and his mommy. 

Somehow, my nerves were calmed, and I realized how amazing God must be to allow ME to experience this much joy...  Sure, there are moments when I am so scared of what is to come that I almost choke, but mostly, there are moments like these when my God reassures me that these "are the plans He has for me..."

Ready or not, the moments of exhaustion are coming...  The sleepless nights and soon thereafter, the endless fights.  I cannot tell you how exciting that is to me these days.  Ready or not, God seems to say, and I, for one, am ready for what He has in store.

Look What Daniel Can Do!

He has been standing somewhat on his own for a while now, but he's finally getting the hang of doing it for longer periods of time!  He just pulls himself up on anything he can and lets go.  He has been busy scaring us by taking 2-4 steps each time, but we haven't actually seen him "walk" as of yet...  It won't be long!  We are so proud of our big boy!

Why I'm Thankful My Husband Can Study from Home

 

I know you can't exactly see Daniel's smiling face so well in this picture, but Daddy took a break from studying today (just so you know, he's a full-time pastor who studies both in his church office and his home office which will eventually be another nursery) to play for a few minutes with Daniel.  

I cannot tell you how sweet it is to see the love a little boy has for his father, and I'm so grateful that I can witness it on a daily basis.  As parents, we always fear that what we are doing isn't benefiting our children, but this one thing for me is true...  You can never go wrong if given the opportunity to stay at home with your family.  I am greatly blessed!

Picture Perfect

"Come now, and let us reason together," 

says the LORD,

"Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow..."

Isaiah 1:18

Your back porch may not look like ours, but I was reminded just yesterday how God sees those of us who have experienced His grace.  Sometimes, I feel as if I'm covered in red paint, but the beautiful picture God's left behind in His Word and of His world help me put things into perspective. 

So, I've Learned...

that it is completely IMPOSSIBLE to do anything with a 9-month-old opening-everything/crawling-everywhere/chewing-all-things/attempting-to-walk in the house.

I honestly do not know how mothers who stay at home can accomplish tasks throughout their days.  Some days, Daniel is incredibly happy playing alone in his super-yard, but on days like today, he realizes I am "caging" him in, and he cannot stand it.  I've let him roam, but I haven't done anything at all.

Really, I haven't completed A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G.  It's a lot past 3 in the afternoon, and to be terribly honest, I haven't showered.  I haven't finished any paintings.  I haven't even started thinking about dinner.

But, I'm not complaining one, single bit.  I'm thankful that I can stay at home with Daniel and watch him as he grows and learns new things.  Like just today, he took two steps...  on his own.  And today, he made some new sounds that I'm pretty sure were monkey calls.  He also looked me straight in the face and said, "Ma-ma-ma-ma."

He doesn't care that I stink, literally.  He reminds me why a painting isn't life or death.  He is elated over Gerber puffs.  He makes life so interesting.  He makes it worth each day, whether I accomplish 14 things or none at all. 

So, really, what I've learned is that I'm blessed to have nothing done...  Because I have a sweet boy who just so happens to be napping this very minute.

Mommy Mondays

As a mom, I will do just about anything to keep my "good-eater" happy.  He's gotten into this phase where he fusses throughout each of his meals, and I have been desperate to change that.  Daniel will eat, don't get me wrong, but I needed a little boost to keep him excited about being at the table (a.k.a. highchair).

That's when Mimi, my mom, got these for him.  She claims that, even when I was a child, these were the best (and messiest) as an infant's snack. 

They really are MESSY, but Daniel will eat the fire out of them.  He's using his three teeth to bite away at each "cookie," and it's incredible.  Why?  Because he'll sit at the table after he has been fed and allow the rest of us to actually eat our dinner...  What a concept!

 

 

What Is It? 
A great finger food for crawlers and/or babies that are 10+ months.  Made by Gerber to be a wholesome snack designed to help with self-feeding.

Where Can I Get It?
Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, etc. - practically anywhere baby food products are sold.

How Much Is It? 
Ranges from $2 - $3 for a pack of 12. 

Grace Abounds

In every tiny kick and each little spout of heartburn, my Lord's grace abounds.

There was a time two years ago this same month when I was at this place:  pregnant, uncertain, and extremely scared.  It was just weeks into our first pregnancy when I learned that we had miscarried.  I didn't feel anything or any different; I just imagined that there was this precious person growing within me and everything was fine.  Yet it wasn't.  Ten weeks into the pregnancy, we were told that it wasn't viable.  There was no heartbeat.  No movement.  No kicks.  No, nothing at all.

However, to this day, I cannot think that it was nothing.  I cannot believe that that baby was not a baby.  I don't know whether it was a girl or a boy, but I know it was a child of God.  Perfectly knit in my womb to fulfill God's plans for my life.  What that is, is anything but "nothing." 

Somehow, these two years later, I have learned that those days, those moments, those horrific valleys of despair were actually times of God's amazing grace.  He redeemed me.  He restored me.  He taught me that He was in control, and now, with our third baby thriving in my womb, I am able to be at complete peace knowing that God knows what is to come.

More than ever, I am able to experience God's grace with a deep appreciation for my Father.  He was there when I was conceived.  He was there that January afternoon when my mother's water broke.  He knew my hip would be dislocated and that I would wear a brace to correct it for 6 months of my life.  He also knew that years later I would have three children of my own.  He even realized that giving one up to Heaven before I ever met it would break me.  He understood that I needed that.  He knew that Daniel would be my first born son.  He knew Daniel would have a brother.  He just knew even way back when, and that is grace. 

So, with every new stage in life (and in this pregnancy), I have learned to look for His grace...  Because it's there.  It surrounds me.  It shapes who I am, who I've lost, who I'm raising, and also who I am carrying.  But I'll never forget that it was this same month two years ago when God's grace made me who I am, taught me about loss, showed me how to be a mother, and how to trust that God is in control of life.  Grace, it's so good.

Have I Told You Lately...

that I love you?

When the baby is sleeping and the world is quiet,
I realize how much I need you.

When the house is a mess and you take charge,
I realize how thankful I should be for you.

When the days seem long and my words fail me,
I realize how much you care for me.

When I have had enough and I'm about to break,
I realize I don't deserve you.

When I have one thing on my mind and you leave me to it,
I realize you understand who I am.

When I have neglected you and our time together,
I realize you still want more...

When you laugh at my jokes that aren't funny at all,
I realize I have found my best friend.

When there's no one I'd rather talk to,
I realize you are all I want.

When you've fallen asleep before I've come to bed,
I realize how blessed I am.

When we've learned life is short but I'll see you again,
I realize that God knew what He was doing...


In case you are wondering why I am writing about my husband for all the world to see, it is because, as God ordained it, I am a part-time mother who will always be a full-time wife.  Simply stated, I find myself writing more often about my amazing child than taking time to talk to my sweet husband.  I never, ever want to forget who God intended for me to spend my life with, and though our children are tremendous blessings, marriage was what God made first...  It's just taken me all day to realize it.

Bet You Didn't Know He Had M-O-V-E-S...

Eating lunch today with his Aunt Jessica ended up being one the funniest things I've ever seen!  I, for one, had no idea he had moves like he was showing us, and I was able to catch him on video.  Seriously, I never imagined that an old elementary-school-turned-Barney song would get him to "dance" over his apple wagon wheels!

Apples and Bananas, Dance Remix from Jenna Johnson on Vimeo.

And, just in case you really love the Apples and Bananas song, it teaches kids the long vowel sounds and goes a little something like this:

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.  I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate aypples and banaynays.  I like to ate, ate, ate aypples and banaynays.  

I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and baneenees.  I like to eat, eat, eat eepples and baneenees.

I like to ite, ite, ite, ie-ples and banie-nies.  I like to ite, ite, ite, ie-ples and banie-nies.

I like to oat, oat, oat oeples and bano-nos.  I like to oat, oat, oat oeples and bano-nos.

I like to ute, ute, ute u-ples and banu-nus.   I like to ute, ute, ute u-ples and banu-nus.   

I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.  I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas.

(just remember to use the long vowel sound for each letter as you go through the song)

Mommy Mondays

I have realized that without the help of some fellow moms, I might have been terrible at what has become my new role in life - Mommy.  So, with that in mind, I've come up with the idea to share each Monday something that has made my life as a mommy more enjoyable, much easier, or just plain fantastic!  It may be a piece of advice or a product we cannot live without. 

This past week, Daniel and I could not have gotten through the whole "being snowed in with a baby who has a cold" without the help of this amazing video:

 

What Is It?

My husband got this DVD before we even had children at a Thomas Nelson sale, and it has helped pass Daniel's time since we really couldn't get out of the house!  Simply stated, this is a Christian version of the popular Baby Einstein videos, except Baby Faith really does "teach" babies about the Bible.  They are extremely repetitive and simple for babies 0-24 months.  This particular video, God Made Music, is all about David and Psalm 150; it reminds us that God loves children and music and uses scripture to tell kids that fact.

Where Can I Get It?

Visit the Baby Faith shop here.

How Much Is It?

$14.99 on DVD