Shots

I never knew that getting children shots would be one of my most frustrating experiences. :P Our health department gives shots for free if you are under a certain income level, otherwise I would have taken them to the doctors so that I could be a little more picky about which shots they get, but it really doesn't matter for boys. Anyway, I made an appointment for 8am so I could be one of the first ones there and it still took 2 hours. It was absolutely ridiculous trying to keep Caleb from running wild without being able to spank him, and Stephen thought he was starving before we were called back. On top of that Caleb decided it was the perfect place to have a blowout stinky diaper. At that point I just had to laugh. Once we actually got back there, the nurse was really surprised and impressed that Caleb, who got 4 pricks, only cried with the MMR and watched her stick him. He also stood quietly and held Stephen's hand while Stephen got his shots. She said his behavior was really unusual because they normally scream the whole time and Caleb was not affected by Stephen's crying. Now I just have to hope they don't get fevers and are cranky for the next few days. lol

Lightswitches and Doorknobs

Caleb crawled into bed with me this morning after Andy left for work, dragging his blanket and bear. He just recently became attached to the blanket as well as the bear but thankfully they are only necessary for naps and bedtime. :) He likes to sleep with his foot up on my hip, don't ask me why. Unfortunately, I found out at 7 that he is now tall enough to reach light switches and likes to flick them. lol Stephen and I could not remain alseep with the light flickering in our eyes so here we are. Stephen is talking to me while I type and Caleb is happily watching TV, which he can also turn on by himself now, telling me all about what he is watching. Because of these new abilities we have already bought doorknob covers so Caleb can't decide to go outside without us, he can reach the deadbolt.

Watching Caleb turn the deadbolt reminded me of our next door neighbors. They have 2 little girls who at the time this happened were 2 1/2 and 1. I got home from shopping and saw them happily running around naked in the living room the way kids do and one window was open because the weather was beautiful. About 5 minutes later I heard them giggling running up and down the sidewalk, still blissfully naked. :) Turns out that the oldest knew she couldn't open the door with the doorknob cover on, so she backed out the open window and opened the door from the outside to let her sister out. It was hilarious and their mother was so embaressed. lol

How to grow up

The longer Andy and I are parents the more we realize how much we have grown and changed in the last few years, and that we are the final human authority on our family's lives. It has been a stuggle to assert that authority in some places and to decide where the line is between having family relations and protecting our children from things we do not want to go through. We believe we have finally reached the best decision for us for the time being and the pressure placed on us no longer matters. The Lord made everything clear for Andy in the days following Stephen's birth, especially after he was told that another 30 minutes and we would have lost Stephen and there was a strong chance I would have died. It seems like a horrible incident, but it was actually very special because it just showed Christ's love and protection in a very clear way.

Another note...
I have come to learn the joys of consignment sale shopping. I found a glider rocker that looks brand new for $30 and several really cute boys outfits for next to nothing. I have to avoid the books, because I'd buy way too many. The kids books especially. lol I don't have room for more books until we move and Andy can build another bookcase.
Caleb has recently learned the joys of coloring and tries his best to share his crayons with Stephen. :) It's precious and I can fold laundry at the table while he colors. lol

Babies... Miracles

Something my family and I were talking about yesterday made me go look up the story about the baby that was born at 21 weeks and survived. The link is below of anyone is interested in looking at it. But this quote made me sick to my stomach. "Should one really be trying at all to keep that baby alive?" asks Professor Richard Nicholson, editor of the Bulletin of Medical Ethics. "Chances are it will require an enormous amount to be spent on it for the rest of its life. It disgusts me that life is worth so little anymore that all people think about is how much it will cost them, not the miracle of life itself. This past Spring there were huge bulletin boards around Auburn campus with extremely graphic pictures of abortions on them for a week. The stir in the students was profound. I heard one girl in my apartment complex who said that she didn't know that was what they did in abortions, that she had to go throw up after seeing them, and that she could never support abortions again. It was amazing to hear. I wasn't able to go see them, because I knew I couldn't handle it, especially since I was pregnant. Anyway, that is my deep post for the week.

The link... http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,2017772,00.html

Father's Day

Well, I'm exhausted, but last week was very productive. With the girls here I got several Latin lessons done, so I can take it easy this week and spend some time with my babies. They miss Mommy. :) Unfortuately this morning I discovered that my smart, tall son has been watching how Daddy turns on the TV without a remote and is now tall enough to push the button himself. :P This means he can turn it on and leave it running without my help, no more peace and quiet. lol

Stephen was baptized yesterday which Andy said was the perfect father's day present and we were very excited that our families were both able to come. Infant baptism is such a beautiful symbol and we loved having everyone witness it. Andy's parents are Baptist and don't believe in infant baptism, so Andy appreciated them coming. We also had fun cooking for our families for a change. Andy got to grill pork chops, which he loves doing. It was a little cramped in our apartment with 12 people there, but it was a lot of fun.

I am finally in the process of finishing up my bachelor's degree. I was on track to be done in a total of 3 1/2 years, but that was before we got married. I have finally signed up for my last 4 classes and have my sisters here for the week so I work intensely on my Latin. If I work really hard and don't goof off I'll be done by Christmas, but will definitely graduate in the Spring. It will have taken me 2 1/2 more years than I thought, but I'll be glad to be done. lol

Even though things have not gone the way I've planned them, it is all the Lord's timing and Andy and I couldn't be happier. We often wonder what the Lord is preparing us for with some of the things we have gone through and are faced with currently, but are safe in the knowledge that everything is in his hands. Even in trials there is still great joy.

We are looking forward to moving the first of August. Our apartment was getting a little small and the reality company became neglectful, so after trial and error we have found a beautiful duplex and can't wait to move in. I can't believe I'm moving with 2 such little children, but we are really excited that Caleb will never remember being without a yard. We will be surrounded by trees and best of all will not have loud neighbors partying until all hours of the night. YAY!!!! :D

More??

Should I post a more detailed story if how we ended up together? It's kinda funny, just long. lol

My beautiful boys

I couldn't resist and had to put up a picture of my babies. :)

About me...

Most of y'all know me and how Andy and I met... We met on a mission trip in 2000 and I knew the first time I saw him that I was supposed to marry him. Kinda startled me, I was 15 and he had a girlfriend. Serveral years later we were set up by his youth pastor and we both knew after our first date that this was it.

In someways we are complete opposites. He loves sports and is pretty good at most of them and really good at some. I would rather curl up with a good book, though I have athletic abilities. Just means our boys will probably be able to play sports. Andy is mathematical and I'm good at english and history.

Even with what some people consider major differences the ones that matter the most we are alike in. Thankfully, Andy is a strong leader, because with my dominant personality I would run over him if he let me. He is a careful biblical leader and always attempts to study things through and guide me when I have questions. He is one of the most compassionate people I know and even though both of our beautiful boys were surprises he is a wonderful father. The Lord has blessed me with my husband who complements my personality and gifts so well.