CRAFTS for CUTIES 2013

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8 Months Strong

In His 8th Month, Elias:

Weighed 22 lbs.
Wore size 18 month clothes.
Wore size 3-4 diapers.
Always had rashes.
Eczema started showing up!
Was sitting up and crawling full time.
Did not sleep well.
Nursed full time.
Would not take medicine well.
Would not eat baby food.
Choked when he tried table foods.
Got his first tooth.
Loved to laugh.
Celebrated his first Christmas.
Got tons of goodies from family!
His favorite toys were his barn,
   chase and race town, and Noah's Ark.
Stole his brother's toys.
Annoyed Samuel to death!
Loved knocking things over.
Wheezed a LOT.
Was sick most of December.

Daniel was trying to show Elias how to crawl.

Elias trying to figure out

how to sit up.

Elias sits for the first time in a restaurant 

high chair with Lisa.  He loves her.

One of Elias' many rashes.

Enjoying his Noah's Ark animals

Pop with his 3rd great grandson

Mommy's Christmas gift from Daddy

was a pencil sketch of Elias

by a talented young man at the Mission

Elias' first Christmas morning...

He hated it.

He wasn't feeling too good.

BUT after a quick nap, 

he was ready to open his gifts!

He loved this barn from Grandpa.

The way Elias spends most of his days...

Breathing Treatments twice a day,

if not more.

Getting a check-up 

due to constant wheezing...

again.

Crawling meant he got into everything...

including his brothers' picnic meals.

He tried his hand at mac and cheese.

BUT wouldn't eat it.

Learning to pull up to standing.

Learning to crawl.

Attempting to get him to sleep on his own...

He falls asleep sitting up.

Our first bath full of boys!

Sweetest Words... Ever.

I'll be honest...  Daniel is definitely the most strong-willed, hard-headed, and determined child I know.  He's pretty difficult to handle at times because he is incredibly energetic and rambunctious.  He doesn't listen when things aren't his ideas, and he is set on doing the opposite of what I tell him.  He disobeys often, but when he is disciplined for doing so, he usually breaks and realizes his wrong.  I love how God made him.  His personality has taught me patience and love.  It's also reiterated the importance of direction and reinforcement.  

However, my favorite thing about Daniel is his sweet heart.  He says the most caring things, and often, it is through his words that he shows how he really feels about a person or situation.  There are days when he doesn't listen to a word I say, but there are times when I'm certain that he loves me.  Today was one of those days.

Sitting in the floor this morning with all three of the boys, Daniel looks up to me and says, "Mommy, when I get big, will you be married with me?"

It's easy to say that I am one very happy mom today.  I know I am loved.  It doesn't always feel that way, but God spoke directly to my heart through this sometimes challenging, always precious little boy.

Grinning while playing 

with his favorite Christmas gift

Thankful for his "merry-go-round" toy

Worn out after a long day

I Cannot Resist

Elias has got to be one of the happiest babies I've ever seen.  He's rarely upset, and he's so easily entertained.  There are just a few things he dislikes.  For the most part, he is just chubby, cheerful, and cheeky.  I cannot resist soaking up my time with him.  The older boys love him, and I'm constantly wondering why God chose to bless us with this third sweet boy.  Just look at a few pictures I've gotten of him lately...

Happy as can be over his new toy!

Enjoying playing peek-a-boo through the barn

Showing off his new 1st tooth

with rosy cheeks

Taking an oatmeal bath

and looking too cute!

New Year, New Goals...

This year is going to be good.  I just know it.

I would like to accomplish a few things this year in the way of goals, so here's my list for 2013:

1)  Read my Bible daily.  
More specifically, read through the New Testament.


All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  2 Timothy 3:16
10)  Be more cautious of the things God has given us and be a better steward of them.  


2)  Be more joyful.  
Spend less time stressing and more time enjoying.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.  James 1:2

3)  Be a better friend and wife.  
Surprise my husband, make lunch appointments with friends, schedule play dates, and be more intentional with those the Lord has given me.

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

4)  Turn 30 gracefully.  :)

...but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.  1 Peter 3:4

5)  Teach our children.  
Do not let a day pass without being the teacher my children deserve to have.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6)  Craft once a month.  
A gift I don't take lightly, I want to put my talents to work and either paint, embroider, or decorate one thing each month.  No need to overwhelm myself (or my family) by thinking I can do more.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:  1 Peter 4:10

7)  Realize there is nothing wrong with saying "no".

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

8)  Do what's best in every situation with the Lord and my family in mind.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3

9)  Give when I can.  Be it time, money, or material things.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

Keep our checkbook balanced, eat healthier, house cleaned, dinner prepared, put things back in their place, etc.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  James 1:17