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Sunday, March 30, 2008
Thoughts on Permanence, by O
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Saturday, March 29, 2008
Training Camp
What a hard, exhausting past few days it has been. I love this little man more than I could ever say. He fills my heart to overflowing, and I treasure the time we spend together. And so these days when we clash all day long hurt my heart so much. I can't stand reflecting on my day and all that really sticks out is disciplining O, over and over again. It breaks my heart. I wish I could take a break, just let him get away with it for a little while, but I know it would be so much harder to correct the issues later on. I wonder: Is this how God feels about me sometimes? He just wants me to obey, to rest in Him, to stop struggling against Him. I am so thankful He loves me enough to keep on shaping me. And I love O enough to stick with it too.
The funny thing is, the rules have not changed. It is the Boy who has changed and grown and no longer obeys without thinking and without question. He is pushing, pushing, pushing back the boundaries, and it is my job to remain firm. I just am so tired!
I love this new Bigger Boy. He thinks things through and reasons with me. He tells the best jokes and has the best smile I've ever seen, all teeth and twinkling eyes. We will both emerge from this with stronger characters and a deeper love for God and for each other. And I can't wait to spend some quality time getting to know my bigger O.
Friday, March 28, 2008
My Brother's Keeper
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ritual
Our bedtime routine with Owen keeps getting extended. I want to remember the run-down (for times when he doesn't need me to tuck him anymore), so here it is:
You are my precious treasure, O. How I love, love you!
Antics
When I even subtly mention getting out of the bath tub, Scooter flops down flat on his tummy in the farthest possible corner of our rather large tub...and holds tight to his toothbrush as if it will save him from Mommy's reaching hands.
Scooter also has said "Mam" repeatedly today when requiring my attention. Have I been renamed? I will answer to anything that sweet Baby wants to call me!
Noah has a very important job to do...and he is all business about it. When I am doing laundry, he stands by the dryer and tosses the wet clothes in. And when the clothes are dry, he sticks his head in the dryer, fishes around for something he fancies, and then totes it out to be tossed upon Laundry Mountain to await being folded. What a good helper!
So back to our question:
Just what am I going to do with you?
All I can do is love you absolutely to pieces!!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Brotherly Generosity
Here are my Boys hunting eggs. Jeremy is helping No-nos, while Owen does a terrific job on his own. Soon we noticed a trend. Every second or third time O found an egg, he would head for Nosy's Easter basket and plop the egg right in. Jeremy and I didn't say anything, just observed this for a bit. Sure enough...quite a few of Owie's eggs were ending up in Scooter's basket. This continued until all the eggs were found and both kiddos had baskets that were full to the brim.
As I took a few pictures, taking advantage of the fact that the Boys were sitting still with their candy, I noticed something through the lens of my camera. Owie would open an egg and then feed every other M&M to Noah, sharing half his candy with Baby Brother. Nosy was thrilled with this development!
Deuteronomy 15:10 "You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. "
May I follow O's sweet example and be as generous with my time, belongings, affections...and my candy!
Our Easter in an Eggshell
My three Guys had so much fun!
The toddler egg hunt was located in the playground area. A few sweet ladies would toss several eggs in front of each wee one's path as they toddled along, and the babies would stoop down and pick them up. Now that's how I like to hunt eggs! Nosy had a good time, except he does not like to get mulch on his hands. Every time he bent over to pick up an egg, he would then seek me out to brush his hands off. Funny Boy! Even so, he got quite a haul!
They had the hugest bounce house I have ever seen set up in a field. It was a roller-coaster, obstacle course, muti-level, very intimidating bounce house. Owen was drawn to it like a magnetic force was pulling him. I checked out some of the other kids waiting in line for a turn. They were all big, older kids. "Are you sure you want to try it, Owie? There are plenty of other bounce houses just your size!" He was adamant. And so my not-so-big kiddo climbed and clawed his way to the top of this ginormous bounce house, overcame all the obstacles (Daddy did give his bottom one tiny shove over a huge mountainous structure), and lived to happily slide down the other side. And then we did the whole thing over again!
Easter Sunday, we joined my parents, my sis and bro-in-law, and some great friends for Easter dinner. Dad grilled steaks...yum! Of our time at the Cody house, the definite hit for the Boys was rocking away on various different rocky toys. The hit for Mommy? New navy blue Crocs for both Boys from Yaya!
Gramps made this pony, whom O named Corky after a horse Gramps had when he was a boy, run like the wind!
Home for a speedy nap and then we got to celebrate the secular side of Easter House of Halpin style!
The Boys are lined up at the entrance to the playroom and are raring to get started!
O's basket runneth over
As soon as Scooter discovered that each egg hid a single M&M, it was pretty much over for him. He'd find an egg and then rush over to me with great angst, shaking his egg, and babbling away. I only wish I could translate baby lingo. I'd love to know what he was so urgently saying! I think his face pretty much tells it all though! "I NEED CANDY!"
The Boys sweetly posed for me so I could get a few Easter shots.
One more stop to go! We headed to Gigi and Papa's for a cousin Easter Egg Hunt and delicious lasagna dinner.
Seriously. Why do we even attempt the group photo? I have hundreds of pictures that look just like this one!
By now, Noah knows the ropes. He's off!
Owie had so much fun racing around madly with his cousins!
What an amazing day to reflect on the sacrificial love of an awesome God for his lowly people.
He is risen indeed!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Botched
It's the hair. There is a story behind this way-too-big-boy hair cut.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Big Boy: 15 months
Peek?
You still throw fits occasionally, although I can see you becoming smarter about it. Now, prior to throwing yourself backwards onto the floor, you can be caught checking out what kind of surface you are on. If you are sitting on the carpet when the fit begins, tossing oneself backwards is a viable option. Hard wood or tile is reason to pause and weigh the cost of a sound head bump. Usually a few minutes into the fit, you stop crying for a second and scan the audience through squinted eyes. If anyone is paying attention to your situation, the fit continues. But if we have all gone about our usual business, you will pop right up and continue playing, the fit forgotten. I am on to you, Little One!
Scooter, you are a delight to me! I get excited to see you in the mornings, even though it is so early, eager to see what new surprises you will bring to our day. You light up my life! Love you, No-nos!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
A Post of Its Own
Can you gather from the look on his face that something is just not sitting right with Noah? I couldn't figure out what was bothering him. And then...
...glory be! The fluffy sheep ambled over to our part of the fence. Noah went crazy with happiness: giggling, patting the sheep, huge smiles, lots of jibber-jabber words. Now I get it! Noah wanted to be in the petting zoo, not just watching the petting zoo.
So I scooped him up and ventured in. This is the face he made when I set him down inside the fence. Pure joy!
Right away he started signing "help." He wanted to dive right in and pat some animals. (I was so busy trying to help us avoid goat poop that I didn't have much time for patting.)
Owie is a pro at brushing goats. Noah watched him for awhile and decided that he was missing out.
He toddled his chubby little legs right over to the bucket of brushes, helped himself and chased down a goat! The Boy with no fear started brushing away!
I don't know if you can see his expression very clearly, but Scooter was so proud of himself and having the time of his life!
Lesson learned: Noah is just not the observing type. If there is action to be had, he wants to be involved! I'll remember that for next time!
Arbo Days
Noah and I blew loads of bubbles
Nosy has the best seat in town
Visit 2: Friends from Baylor NICU
We plunked down at the little houses and just let the kids run around while we did a whole lot of chatting. Unfortunately, it was a damp, chilly day at the Arbo.
Owie and Turner had a blast playing chase
Friendly Nathan
Thoughtful Logan
Holly snuggled with baby Jackson
Noah was warm and cozy, all bundled up.
Sweet Ashley and Turner
Visit 3: Amezcua cousins, Gigi, Oliver and friends Colleen, Hayden, and baby Evan. We participated in all the Mommy and Me activities.
Just look at those sweet kids holding hands!
Owie and Mia were inseparable
Ollie is such a funny guy!
O and Hayden share a secret
O got to join a rodeo! Ride 'em, Cowboy!
We were just in time for Kindermusic. We all spread out our blankets in the back to hear some tunes while we ate our picnic. At one point, Owen ran up to the stage area to grab an "egg shaker" to play...and never came back. I went to take a peak at what he was doing, and what did I find? My shy little boy was right up front doing a little jig with the singer! I observed him for a bit. He was right at home, dancing away with her! The look in his eyes might have indicated a little bit of puppy love for this wonderful musician.
While I was up front spying on O, Noah helped himself to his applesauce. He had a really good time!
Adorable Will. Just look at that grin!