baby belly 4

Here's a pic I took this morning for those who have asked to see our baby bump ;0)
This week we'll reach 20 weeks pregnant with sweet babynew number 4! Praise report: today is the fourth day in a row without vomiting or waves of nausea! Praise the Lord! Please pray with us that this means the daily, ongoing vomiting and nausea are over for this pregnancy. Please join us in prayer for a healthy baby and a smooth, speedy, natural delivery also!

we made a sunny day

The three weeks before we moved went on endlessly, rainy day after rainy, muddy, overcast day. The kids were soooo tired of the rain and they were stir-crazy from being trapped in the house for so many days in a row. One morning N' said that we needed a sunshine in the window. I explained that I couldn't make it sunny out, but suggested that we make our own sunny day inside. N' and J' thought it was a fabulous idea and a few minutes later the floor was covered in construction paper, the scotch tape was out, and mommy was in serious demand cutting whatever shape they thought to add next. We spent a fun-filled hour cutting out shapes and taping them in the window in various spots until N' and J' were pleased with the result. They couldn't wait to show daddy their very own sunny day when he returned home from work that day! "Look Daddy, we made a sunny day!"

We spent the next week (yes, it kept raining) of overcast, rainy days pulling the blinds up every morning instead of just turning them open so that they could smile at their sunny day. We didn't take it down until a couple of days before we moved. I thought about keeping it, but thought it would be more fun to start over fresh and see what they come up with the next time!

Isn't it amazing how creative you can be at only 4 and 2 years old! N' was particularly pleased with his lake and sailboat idea. J' loved the three birds flying under the clouds (she loves birds -- they're hard to see in the pics). B' was happy to tear-up and attempt to eat the scraps of construction paper that littered the floor while we worked :0)

our hat lover

N', J', and B' all enjoy any opportunity to toss on a hat. But, B' is especially crazy about hats! It's rare for a whole day to go by without him putting on a hat... any hat! Here are some sweet pics of him in his current favorite, N's cowboy hat. We took these about a month ago, but he's still running around in this one. Isn't he sweet! I wish you could hear him say "hat?" when he's looking for it! I love it!

skipping it

I try not to air controversial opinions often, but I have such a heart for this every October. So, please indulge me as I share my heart about halloween. I know many of my Christian friends choose to enjoy celebrating the day in full or in alternative celebrations of various kinds. You certainly have liberty to make your own decision for you and your family. However, I contend that as followers of the Most High God, it is important that we flee anything that is rooted in our enemy, Satan.

There are several who argue that our children are missing out on something by not participating in dressing up and candy collecting from door-to-door. However, I don't see my children missing anything. There is nothing wrong with playing dress-up or holding a fun costume party. If you are ok with sugar consumption in young children, there is nothing wrong with the occasional candy munch either. Both of these activities can be enjoyed any time of year. There is no reason why we need to participate in a halloween event in order to allow the kids to put on a hero costume or taste M&M's. We can save this fun for a sunny afternoon with the dress-up box out or for a themed birthday party.

There are also those who hold that it's an important community opportunity to greet neighborhood trick-or-treaters at our doors on what may be the only day that they actually knock. But, it has been my experience that this actually creates confusion for non-believers who assume, rightly, that Christians would not want a part in celebrating a holiday that originated in pagan practices and ideas. We are called as Christians to stand as light in darkness, not to walk alongside darkness and allow ignorance to be bliss for our children. With a little effort, we can establish healthy relationships with those neighbors who are willing, without the risk of putting our witness and walk with the Lord into question.

"Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them." Ephesians 5:11

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."
1 Corinthians 10:21

So forgive me those who disagree, as I turn out the porch light and wait until November 1st to celebrate the fall with whole pumpkins and gourds on my porch. Autumn is my favorite season and I can't wait to jump knee deep into leaves and brush and wrap myself in fabulous fall jewel tones... but first, I have a day to spend in warfare-prayer for the hearts of those lost in occult practices. They will be celebrating in horrifying ways in secret places halloween night while innocent children blindly walk the streets thinking of nothing more than candy and the greatness of this year's costume. It is my prayer that as my children grow, they will join me in prayer and spend halloween thinking of the greatness of walking in relationship with King Jesus -- there is nothing better than that. No costume, no amount of candy, no number of halloween games could ever compare to the greatness of His love.

If you are interested in more information, the best objective, concise read I've found this year is on the History.com website (http://www.history.com/content/halloween). Be warned: their site is secular in nature and may have images along the side page that you would prefer not to see (i.e. skull and crossbones artwork). The purely fact-based information is useful for understanding the origins of today's halloween celebrations in the United States without any addition of opinions on the matter.

1. origins of halloween http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween
2. origins of pumpkin carving http://www.history.com/content/halloween/the-jack-o-lantern/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern
3. origins of trick-or-treating http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween/today-s-traditions

You could also refer to an article I agree with from christiananswers.net. (I don't agree with everything this site puts out but I liked this article. Again, be warned in advance as they have pics along the side page that you may prefer not to see (i.e. a woman with a bloody bandage across her face).) http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/halloween.html#harvestparties

There are many books and sites with clear, objective information. If you are unaware of the origins of halloween or if you're on the fence about whether or not your family should participate; I encourage you to do some research. Don't take my word for it, seek information, seek out scripture, and make your own informed decision.

bum genius contest

After much deliberation and way too much hesitation, I've finally decided to enter the wonderful world of cloth diapering. Some of you will say I've lost my mind, but there are honestly so many pros as compared to disposables. It's better for the environment, saves money over time, eliminates exposing your baby to the chemicals in disposables, helps potty training to happen faster (as babies feel natural wetness when they potty), and they are CUTE! These are just a few of the pros.

The hardest part of this decision is to decide which brand, style, and type of cloth diapering to go with. I am really interested in two options: "bum genius one-size" cloth diapers and "bummis" cotton prefold diapers with "super whisper wrap" covers. These represent two TOTALLY different types of cloth diapering: prefolds (updated version of what our moms had before the disposable was invented - lots of flexibility in fit since you choose the fold that works best for your baby) and all-in-ones (AOI's) which are a newer take on cloth diapering and combine the style and ease of a disposable (they go right on with no folding, pinning, etc.) and all the wonderful benefits of cloth. A decision must be made ;0)

To this end, I've been researching endlessly online and found a contest offering 6 free bum genius one-size diapers to the winner! Well I couldn't pass that up!

To learn more about bum genius diapers, cloth diapering in general, and to enter the contest, follow the link below to clothdiapertips.com!

http://clothdiapertips.com/contest-six-bumgenius-3-0-one-size-cloth-diapers/

Oh yes... some of you may wonder why I'm researching cloth diapering when B is 16 months old and almost ready to potty train. So, here's to sharing fun news for those of you we haven't had a chance to tell yet: we're expecting baby number 4! Another sweet surprise from the Lord and a promise of much more diapering to come!

summer in review

Welcome to our summer in review! Tomorrow is the first day of September and we are soooo anxious for the summer's heat to end that my heart is moving on to fall! Big apologies are due for the incredibly LONG absence of blog updates. You'd think we went on an extended vacation or something... we didn't. I've just been running as usual and trying to keep the kids entertained indoors as much as possible. Ten minutes in this southern heat and cheeks are all pink, clothes are all sweaty, and everyone smells like wet puppies. Here's a list of pics and details, caption style, to show some of our summer highlights. Hope you enjoy!

B and "Shirley the Great" (my grandmother) at a church concert in Waco.

N pretending he's a painter. (I love that plastic bowl "painter's hat"!) His paint palette is the plastic lid from an empty cardboard oatmeal container.


J in a new dress! It was handed down from a dear friend of mine who has two girls and a baby boy. I wish you could see all the sweet little lady clothes she gifted to us when she visited! It was such a blessing to recieve, but an even greater blessing to spend a few precious hours with an out-of-town friend while our little ones played. Doesn't she look absolutely adorable?! Of course, I may be slightly biased ;0).

B trying to put himself down for a nap in N's toddler bed with the padded letter "T" for company.
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In June we went to the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science for a friend's 3rd birthday party. The kids had never been before. They have a children's museum there with small versions of places in the world for them to explore. Our three loved the firetruck, kiddie kitchen, and farm best.

J driving the firetruck with friends from church, Eliana and Gideon.

N, J, and B riding rocking horses at the miniature farm.

Posing with the life-size mammoth statue outside the animal and dinosaur building of the museum of nature and science.
J was not impressed with the dinosaur bones, but she LOVED the taxidermy animal displays. Sadly, the two pics of her with the black bears refused to upload. N thought it was all fabulous! Sweet B had fallen asleep in the stroller by the time we reached the animal building. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fun at home with daddy. The kids LOVE to pile on PT's lap when he sits down in this chair. It's hilarious because they barely fit all together, but they are determined even if they have to sit on each other's arms and legs to make it work.

N and J morning fresh and looking cute! B refused to stay in the picture. He prefers to try his best to get a closer look at the camera when I try to get a cute, posed group shot.
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Friends invited us to their parents' cabin in east Texas for Independence Day weekend. We left early Friday morning and followed them there and drove back just in time for sound check before service Sunday morning. We had the best time getting to know their family better and spending the weekend in a gorgeous place away from the city! We rode four wheelers (kids too! - they rode in front of us, one kid with one adult, slow, but they thought it was great). We shared meals. We played ping pong. We walked along the trail. We looked at the stars without city lights in the way. It was wonderful! We loved getting away!

The view of the "piney woods" from the upstairs deck of the cabin on the top of the hill.

J and Daddy laughing.

Sparklers!
On Saturday night we went to the pond for sparklers and fireworks (a set of 9 canister fireworks that our host was brave enough to light the fuse for out on the edge of the dock and then run so we could all enjoy!) Most of the time the grownups helped the kids hold the sparklers steady, but N and friends Ethan and Adelaide went solo when the sticks were first lit (and nice and long) which made for good pics. You can't see N's friend Ethan, but that's his sparkler on the left. J and B were too short and too unpredictable to handle sparklers.
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"Now I'm number 4?"

N turned four early in August. When did four years go by??? He was so tickled to actually have a cake. It was the only thing he asked to have for his birthday. We don't do complex sugar very often, so cake is pretty rare at our house. It was a strawberry cake with brown sugar and butter drizzle on top. He thought it was fabulous! Funny birthday moment: N asked, "so will I be number 5 tomorrow?" ;0) He was sad to learn that he has to wait a whole year to turn 5.
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Well, that's our summer in review. Hope your summer has been filled with moments of great JOY and many reminders of God's greatness!

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23 NLT

lye soap love

My mom brought me a bar of Grandma's Lye Soap about a month ago. I use basic bar soap as a stain remover (works really well on biological stains like food and poops) and she thought a bar of lye soap would work even better than my random bar of zest soap. So, I opened the bar of lye soap and promptly fell in love! The ingredients include lard, water, and lye. That's it! I started out just using it to help remove poop stains from all these training pants. (Oh how I lament the decision not to try elimination communication in lieu of traditional potty training -- the extra effort when they were tiny would have been WELL worth the effort!) The lye soap not only removes the discoloration quickly, but zaps the not-so-sweet smell of fresh toddler poo in seconds! YAY!

Well, I didn't stop there. I had some onions to slice one day and wondered if it would remove the onion smell from my fingers faster than lemon juice and baking soda. It does!

Next I tried peeling a little into the wash with a cheese grater, some white vinegar, and a little Borax (simple, homemade laundry detergent). That worked too. The clothes were clean, fresh smelling, and soft without fabric softner; but it does take two rinse cycles to get the soap all out.

All of this was great! But the best happened when I decided to try it in the bathtub. Our kiddos all have excema (patches of severe dry skin) that comes and goes based on their allergies (ah the joys of living in the pollen-rich south!). As I researched lye soap I read a few threads on some sites that declared the wonder of lye soap as body wash, especially for sensitive skin and excema. The results: the two stubborn patches of excema on J's sweet little cheeks are almost clear! N's sandpaper back is becoming smoother and softer! And they all smell fabulous without any fragrance added!

Hooray for old-fashioned lye soap!