Jovie is 8 Months!!!

ms. priss, you are 8 months old! craziness. time with you seems to go by so much quicker than it did with Jack. maybe b/c i have my hands full with 2 little squirts. or maybe its just b/c we are having so much fun!

you are the most adorable girl i've ever seen. you have a toothless grin & hair that is soft as feathers but super spikey on the top of your head! its an auburn color & we just love it. you have deep brown eyes & to die for leg rolls. (enjoy them while they are perfectly acceptable!) you have the sweetest little personality. you just love to give kisses to your dadda. you giggle at everything Jack does & you squirm to get to me every chance you get. there is no doubt that you are feisty & you pack a serious temper. but you only cry when you are hurt, hungry or tired. you have become the easiest baby & we are really noticing that you are pretty content. however, you are the most active 8 month old i've ever seen. honestly, you don't sit still unless you are sleeping or strapped in your car seat (which you hate!). you are a laid back eater. sometimes, you'll take 1 hour to drink a 6 oz bottle. you drink a little, play a little. we aren't used to this since your brother was such an aggressive eater! you love your bouncy seat & when you aren't in it, you want someone to hold you so you can bounce on their legs. you have also become very vocal. you squeal & "talk" all day long. no syllables yet, but i don't think it will be too long.

you are crawling & pulling up on everything. you've even started standing (completely unassisted) for about 5 seconds at a time. i think you will be walking before you are 1 year old. everything you touch goes into your mouth. everything. i vacuum & sweep pretty much everyday. you love bath time & playing outside. we have also noticed that you love music. if we put on Jack's bible songs cd when we are in the car, then you just talk & squeal & rarely fuss. but if we turn it off, the waterworks start right up! you have begun sitting in the high chair for snacks & finger foods, you look so big in that thing.

your first little accident was this past month. mommy, ACCIDENTALLY, (of course), shut your foot in the van door. it was the worst day ever. i was trying to hold on to Jack & i didn't realize your foot was in the path of the door. i was devastated. we rushed you to LeBonheur Minor Med & after a few x-rays we were very relieved to learn your sweet little foot wasn't broken. just very bruised & swollen. i've been giving you extra love, hugs & kisses. you are playing completely normally & you don't act like it bothers you at all! Praise the Lord.

you weigh 16.6 lbs. you are in a size 6 month clothing. you can wear a few shirts that are 9 months in size but overall, you are still very petite. you are in a size 1 shoe & a size 3 diaper. you don't love your bows & headbands but i'm trying to use them as much as i can before you get older & really fight them!

you are still an excellent little eater. you take 5 bottles a day with 6 oz each. you still eat baby food but you have tried a few table foods. you've had green beans, corn, apples & carrots. you've loved every single thing i've offered & i'm so thankful that for now, you aren't picky. you don't have any teeth yet but i think you are starting to cut 2 on the bottom. you are a wonderful sleeper. you take 2 naps a day (unless we are really busy) and they are about 1.5 - 2 hours each. you go to bed between 8-9 & you sleep until 8 the next morning. i'm so thankful for 2 kids that sleep so well!

you are so much fun. every night, dadda & i talk about how much we love you & Jack. we both agree that you have been the perfect addition to our family & we are so thankful that the Lord had the wisdom to send you to us when He did. you have such a loving personality & sweet spirit. there are days that you wear me out but i wouldn't trade my time with you for anything in this world. being your mommy has taught me so many wonderful things. you are truly an absolute blessing.

Happy 8 months, sassy. i love you so very much.

Jack @ 23 Months!!

oh my sweet boy. you are 23 months old today! i can not believe that you will be 2 years old next month. where has the time gone?! you are growing & learning so much right now. we are so proud of you!

you are just getting over a 12 day bout of tummy virus & head cold. it has not been fun. i think you have even lost a little bit of weight b/c you can wear a size 4 diaper again. but i have kept you in a size 5 b/c that is what we have around the house. you are wearing 12-18 months in pants & 18-24 months in shirts. you weigh around 23 lbs and you are in a size 6 shoe. i can't wait to find out all of your official stats at your 2 year appt next month with Dr Bubba!

you are really making strides in your speech this month. you literally try to repeat everything we say. you want to know the word or name for everything & we can tell that you try to remember it. you can recognize & say the letters: T, C, E & R. you can point to the letter J when prompted but you can't say it yet! you have learned the color blue. we are working on the other colors but blue has been the easiest for you. you can recognize & say the shapes: heart, star, circle, triangle & square. you have begun saying several new words this month: Lolli, Poppa, Mamie, Jenna, Sassy, Linny, Katie, Kenny, Tommy, Fire Truck (you've always said this but its getting clearer), Pasta, Pizza, Cup, Snack, Drink, Thank You, No, Bathroom, Bathtub, Potty, Diaper, Door, Bear, Shoe, Sock, Slide, Seat & Bed. i'm sure there are more but when you add those to the words you already say, you are a real talker! you haven't started putting sentences together but i know it won't be long!

you're new favorite activity is coloring. i draw a few letters or shapes on a piece of paper & you love to draw on them. we do this at least once per day. its been a great way to teach you new things. we also bought you some bath tub crayons & foam letters/shapes for the tub. bath time has become so fun for you & Jovie. and we love watching you learn! you still carry around a truck or a car 24/7. its adorable. we keep some in the diaper bag, the car & even one in your bed. we love to watch you have fun as you play with them. we can tell that you are all boy & we love it!

you love to be outside, all the time. we are so thankful that seminary housing has a playground. we take you to slide everyday. you have such a good time playing out there. you love to watch the big kids & try to copy what they do! you have even learned to climb up the slide, cross the wobbly bridge & climb the steps! such a big boy! we take walks outside on a regular basis & you love to point out each car & truck along the way.

you are such a big help with Jovie. you love to put her paci in her mouth, try to feed her a bottle, give her the lovie, hand her a toy, make her giggle & you've even tried to wipe her face, hands & bottom with diaper wipes! its so sweet! you love to play in the same room as her & "help" me put her to bed. you are such a great big brother. we can tell that you are a little protective of her & we hope you stay that way your whole life!

you have become a picky eater this past month. you only want a cereal bar & milk for breakfast. only a peanut butter & honey sandwich for lunch & some sort of chicken for dinner. we are trying to introduce new fruits & veggies to you but it hasn't been easy. you love juice, chocolate milk, apples & sprite!

you are still very interested in anything that has to do with cleaning! you love the vacuum, broom, mop, & duster. you always take a diaper wipe & wipe down the counters or coffee table. you love to throw trash in the trash can & you've even tried to help me make the beds! i hope you keep this love of cleaning!

Jack, you are such a joy. we love each day with you. watching you grow & learn has been such a blessing for us. you are such a sweet & smart little boy. overall, you are very obedient & you have such a tender heart. you are our very favorite toddler!!!

happy 23 months, sweet boy. you are a precious gift & we love you so very much!

Mommy Guilt

this morning was a little rough for me. every tuesday morning, i go to MotherWise at Kirby Woods. we are in week 5. i am learning SO very much through this study. i'm so thankful to be able to go through it with other moms. the Lord is blessing the time we have to study about how to be a godly mom & wife.

but each week, i must put my kids in the nursery for 2 hours. they have not done well with it. at all. and its so hard for me. i know they are having a difficult time b/c they aren't really used to a nursery. they've never attended nursery on a weekly basis. at our previous church, the nursery situation was very different.

so. for them to go to a nursery for 2 hours in one day is just a lot for them. Jovie's morning nap time falls during the time she's in the nursery & Jack is really going through a separation anxiety phase. he clings to me in new situations with new people or when he feels overwhelmed. today, when i walked down to the nursery to get them, they were both pretty upset. the nursery workers told me they had been crying the entire 2 hours. jack sat on the floor & cried in his classroom while jovie got so worked up that they gave her a bottle an hour early. the bottle didn't soothe her & when i finally got to her, her eyes were swollen & her little face was red & patchy from fussing so much. she never gets that worked up on a regular basis. i was a little upset that no one came to get me b/c they were that worked up. i mean, i wasn't mad, i know they are just trying to help my kids adjust to the nursery. but it made me so sad that they never calmed down.

if you don't have kids, you might think i'm a crazy paranoid silly mom that needs to get over it & allow my kids to just deal with it for 2 hours each week. but its not that simple. i hate feeling like my kids are scared & uncomfortable. i know that 5 years from now, they probably won't remember this difficult time. they'll be over it. but i just battle that feeling of guilt each week when i pick them up & see their tears & snotty noses. can anyone relate to this?! i just keep praying that the Lord will give them peace & that they will adjust. i mean, its only 2 hours a week. but for them, that is a long time.

this must seem so silly to some of you. i'm not trying to be ridiculous. but i'm honestly struggling with it. i plan on continuing the bible study b/c i know that the Lord wants me there. and i know the nursery is ultimately a good thing for my kids. i just want them to have fun & not be so upset. if anyone has any advice, i would love it. or maybe just a little encouragement that it will get better. so. that is my rough little morning. i am thankful that it was my biggest struggle today & not something worse.

can't wait to post about all i've been learning through this study. if you haven't ever done it, i highly encourage it. i've found it very refreshing. the book we are doing is called Wisdom for Mothers by Denise Glenn.

now, i'm off to bed & praying i can get some sleep tonight.

Look Alikes?!

i've seen a couple girls do this on their blogs & i've been wanting to do it for forever. and of course, i'm just now getting around to it!!

but here are Jack & Jovie at 7 months. both in the tub. my kids love the water.

Do you think they look alike?

Jack


Jovie


Ben thinks they look so much alike. i think they are similar but not twinkies. i think Jack looks more like me & Jovie looks like Ben. its so funny how 2 kids can be so different but so cute!!!

Blessings Abundant

i am a blessed girl.

i am living on the tightest budget of my life. we are busier now than we have ever been. we have had crazy random & very expensive bills pop up since we moved. i am up to my eye balls in dirty laundry, dirty diapers & chaos. Jack & Jovie both have some crazy gross stomach bug & i haven't slept through the night in 2 weeks. i have no idea why i can't sleep but praise the Lord my kids are sleeping beautifully.

we are stressed out & worn out. we do not get regular date nights. i spend the majority of my time with 2 under 2. Ben is busting his rear trying to finish school & graduate in December. he is constantly having meetings with pastors & families b/c he is trying to raise money & support for our church plant, Revision Church. on the days that he is not at school or in meetings, he is working part-time at his brother's Lenny's sub shop. since our move, our income has decreased by $1600 a month and we have added the expense of rent. i am clipping coupons like crazy & buying used clothes on ebay to save money. i'm also making tutus & trying to sell them on etsy & ebay for a little extra cash. i worry, more than i should, about how we will make it financially until December. i know the Lord is faithful & He always provides. but its hard to keep sight of that right now. i'm just being honest.

Ben & I are confident that the Lord has called me to stay home with our children. we know we are being obedient in this area but it is definitely a sacrifice to the bank account. i am beyond thankful & overjoyed to be home each day with my kids, there is nothing i would rather be doing. but the Lord is definitely using this time to teach us how to trust Him. we, along with the other staff families in our church plant, have stepped out on complete faith in our God. we know that Revision Church is His will for our lives & the city of Olive Branch. we are thrilled to be serving Christ in this capacity but we are all making big sacrifices for this calling. we are seeking the Lord & begging Him for things to work out in His timing & in His way. but to be honest, we are also praying that we get the funding we need so we can survive. starting in January, the men will draw salary from the church plant & the amount depends on the support. we aren't seeking a crazy high salary, but we do need enough to live on. but i know, He is able. i keep telling myself, this crazy crazy budget is only for a couple more months. just make it until December & we will be ok. i know that our stresses don't end when the salary begins but i do feel like we'll have some breathing room at that point. i hate that we have to live off savings right now. but, its not the end of the world.

how can i say that i am blessed when i have just listed so many of our hardships? how can i feel completely content with where we are in life when i feel so stressed by our crazy lifestyle?! i tell you, it is only b/c of Christ. i truly believe that when you follow Him & submit yourself to His will for your life then contentment will abound. He hasn't called us to lavish lifestyles & a swollen bank account. but He has called us to serve, to go, to tell & to love. i have the most wonderful husband. he is a constant leader of our family & a devoted follower of Jesus. my children are crazy awesome. they are the sweetest most precious little creatures & i enjoy every moment with them. they even make me want a 3rd baby!! (but ben says not for another year!!! ha!) we have a wonderful support system in our family & friends. we are working with 3 incredible families in our church plant. we can't imagine walking this road with 3 sweeter couples.

the Lord is good. He is faithful. He is mighty. and He is working. i am humbled that He wants to include me in His plans. He has given me a blessed life. He hasn't promised that i won't have hard days, long weeks or stressful months. He never promised i would have a lot of money & He even called me to give what i have back to Him. but, i have never been more full. i have never had greater joy or a sweeter time with Him. He is teaching me & showing me so much in this time. i am thankful. so very thankful.

i just wanted to record what i am experiencing. i want to look back & remember this hectic but precious time in our lives. i'm sorry if i rambled. but i just wanted to give thanks, publicly to my gracious Father for my abundant life.

John 10:10
"the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

He loves Sisty

sisty is how Jack says "sissy". its adorable. but then again, everything he does is adorable. he loves his sisty. he says her name like 1,000 times per day. as soon as he wakes up in the morning, he looks for her & he lights up when he sees her. he even lets her play with his firetrucks, well sometimes. the love is returned b/c Jovie is enthralled with her brother. nobody can get her to belly laugh like he can. and she gets so excited when he is around. she loves to pull his hair & lick his face. sweet children. seeing them play so well together just melts my heart like butter. i'm so blessed to have these 2 little kids & i love every day i get to spend with them. what a blessing!



aren't they just too sweet together?! love them.

Jovie is 7 Months!!!

Jovie Claire, you are 7 months old already. my goodness. you seem to be growing even quicker than Jack. you are just learning so much. you are the most active baby i've ever seen! you don't stop moving until you go to bed. you wear me out just watching you! but you have the sweetest little personality.

you are doing a couple new things this past month. right before you turned 7 months, you started crawling! and you are all over our house. you can crawl anywhere & get into everything! you are also pulling up on everything you can. you aren't quite a pro at it yet so there have been a few bumps & bruises. but you are very determined. i think you notice all the things that Jack can do & you try to keep up with him. one of your favorite things to do is play under the coffee table. you love to crawl over the wood slabs. its so funny b/c you could just go around it & avoid all the trouble but you insist on crawling over it! you can sit up perfectly now. you love to sit up & play with toys or teethe on whatever you can get your hands on! your bouncy seat does a great job of entertaining you. you can sit in that thing forever & bounce your little heart out!

you are eating tons of baby food these days. you have tried just about all of them & you haven't turned down a single one of them! you are a great eater! you usually eat 1 veggie & 1 fruit per day. you take 5-6 bottles per day & each one is 5 oz; except for your bed time bottle which is 6 oz. you love to try table food. you are so curious when you watch any of us eat. we have let you try pizza crust, crackers & banana. so far, you love it all! i'm very thankful that you don't seem to be too picky.

you are in a size 3 diaper but its still a little big on you. but its seems to be more comfortable for you than a size 2. you typically wear a size 6 month in clothing. somethings you wear are even a 3-6 month. and maybe 1 or 2 things are a 9 month. but that is rare. trying to find pants that aren't huge on you is such a challenge. you are just a petite girl. you haven't started wearing shoes yet but i'm going to try & find you one pair that you can wear through the fall. you aren't a fan of the hair bows, you are always pulling them off. but they are just so cute on you!

Jovie, we just love everything about you. you are so very loving & cuddly. you reach out your arms for us to hold you & you love to be rocked. you are still a mommy's girl & i can't complain. you follow me from room to room & constantly try to pull up on my leg. you fuss when i leave the room or if you think you can't see me. but you light up like crazy when your daddy enters the room. you have started reaching for him & he is the only man you aren't afraid of right now! you love to pull on his beard & slobber on his face. i love watching you with him!

Happy 7 months, sassy. you are such a precious baby & i love you immensely.