Sweet Verse

I ran across this verse in my quiet time and thought it was so special.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in Heaven." Matthew 18:10-11

The commentary in my Bible says, "Our concern for children must match God's treatment of them. Certain angels are assigned to watch over children, and they have direct access to God."

What a great God we have that He would assign our babies their own angels, and those angels have direct access to the Father!

Thought all the moms out there might appreciate that :)

The Coopster

It's hard to believe Cooper is twelve weeks old. He is an angel and getting so much personality. Joel and I call Carter "Buddy" and always have since the day he was born. No reason really...just a name that stuck. Cooper on the other hand has MANY nick names...his name is so easy to modify :) Here are just a few:

Coop
Coop-dog

Coopster

Coop-man

The Coop-myster

Coopey

I often sing "Coop Coopey Doopey Doopey Doop" to the tune of "Shoop" by Salt n Pepa...I know I am crazy. My poor kids.

Anyway, we are having so much fun with Coop to say the least. He is precious. Here are a few pics I took tonight before bed.

Cheeeeese!

Carter's face when I got the camera out last night. Ha!

Doing all we can :) Isn't he precious?!

Click the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYBuZHfRko

Giving it up

My type A personality and need for "a good grasp on things" has definitely worked against me in the raising of my two boys. The first lesson I should have learned in having children is to let go and give it to God. Everyday new challenges arise and everyday I hold onto those challenges, struggle over them, try to fix them, worry over them, etc... instead of giving them up. One would think I would get the hang of this, but my flesh and the sin in my heart are so ever-present!

My cousin sent me an email after reading one of my blog posts about needing encouragement, and she said something along the lines of "I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn't. In every stage of child-rearing, there are new challenges." I needed to hear that. I think I have it in my mind that if I just get over the next hump, I will have arrived. For instance I'll think, "If I can just get Cooper sleeping through the night, all will be great" or "If Carter could just conquer this fear or that fear, all will be well." But my cousin was right, when get over one hump, another awaits.

I know God allows our struggles and challenges to bring us back to Him...the source of all comfort and peace. So I can be thankful for the challenges because they keep me dependent on Him.

Right now my specific struggles are Carter's irrational fears and Cooper's sleep schedule. I have been reading Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, and it has been awesome. She really makes a point to show the reader in scripture that God made your child, He loves your child, and WILL take care of your child. What a relief!

After giving these struggles to God, taking them back again, giving them up again, etc...I was prompted by the Holy Spirit tonight to go and sit outside each of my boys' rooms after they went to sleep and pray over them through their doors. I just thanked God for the gift of each of them, confessed my anxieties and lack of faith, and asked that God meet their needs as only He can. I can't tell you what a burden was lifted. I think I might make a regular practice of doing this. It was so peaceful to send them into a night of sleep covered in prayer.

I know I am babbling, but if you are like me, you face challenges everyday. Maybe yours aren't child-rearing challenges, but nonetheless, we all have them. Maybe one day I'll get the hang of "giving it up to God" but as of now, even that is a daily struggle. Ha! But for grace, oh how lost I would be!!! Praise be to the God who loves, provides, and meets all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! May I learn to give it all up everyday!

More Fun at Home

Coop's favorite thing to do...sleep :)

We've been working hard on learning to share...here is Carter in action sharing his car with Coop. Such a good boy!

Here is Carter crawling all over me as I try to talk to Coop. I love these pictures...it's great to be loved by two little boys.

Carter's bath art. He has had a really weird fear of the bath tub lately, so I brought out some bath crayons that my friend, Cecile Gray, gave him, and it was amazing how much it helped. Notice he isn't sitting down, but at least he isn't screaming his head off. Ha! I'll take what I can get :)

Giving me a big smooch...I gotta get them while I can before he's too cool for me!

High Five!

A smooch for Coop

Carter loves to lay on people as if they were his pillow. If you lay in the floor, Carter WILL come and lay on top of you.

Poor Coop is getting squooshed.

Time for Mom to intervene. Coop has had enough of being a pillow.

Such great times!

Fun at home

We are at home A LOT these days, so we have been trying to be creative to stay entertained. Carter is the best at this. He is better at entertaining himself than I am! Some things we like to do: go outside...several hours a day :), swing, play in the kiddie pool or sprinkler, watch Sesame Street, color, wear DaDa's shoes around the house, read books, dance, chase each other around the house...Carter thinks playing chase is hilarious, play tickle bug, go on walks, go visit the neighbor's dog, and the list goes on. It's amazing how much fun we can have around here.

When I feel like the walls are closing in on me, I try to remember that these days at home with my babies are fleeting; soon I will become their taxi driver and probably spend most of my time on the road :). I want to savor these times knowing that one day I will wish for them again.

Carter and I are best buddies and have lots of good laughs together. Soon Coop-man will join us in all the fun, and we will be one tough trio Monday through Friday! DaDa can join us on the weekends :) I am truly blessed.

Carter wearing DaDa's shirt

 

Wearing DaDa's shoes

A very perplexing look

Playing in the floor...hoping Carter doesn't land on him :)

Going for a ride in the double stroller...Poor Coop only gets a view of the sky.

Just enjoying the ride

Climbing in to go...very excited!

Update on my Boys

Typical Carter picture. He always has a "Ba Ba" and his "Ya Ya' in hand.

One of his new favorite activities is playing inside cars. He is in heaven behind the wheel :) Lot of fun buttons to push!

 

Still loves his Coupe.

Impossible to get a great picture of both of them! This is about as good as it gets. Ha!

Carter talking to Cooper...aka "Boppa"

My little Coop-man. He is smiling ALL the time now. He rolled over from front to back for the first time today. Go, Coop!!!

I want to always remember my boys' favorite things at each new stage of their lives, so I have made a point to record them every now and then. Here are their favorites as of now:

Carter:

Trains, planes, and automobiles

Any kind of ball

Elmo...aka "Nelmo" and Sesame Street..aka "Sesie See"

Playing inside cars

Talking :)

Swinging...aka "Shing"

Being outside (ALL THE TIME!)

American flags

Balloons...aka "Bawoo"

Fans...aka "Feh"

Bananas...he eats at least 2 a day

Raisins

NutriGrain bars...aka "Bah"

Of course his "Ba Ba" and his "Ya Ya"

Cooper:

Eating

Sleeping

Smiling

Cooing

What can I say? Coop has a pretty simple life right now...I could probably take a few notes from his simplification :)

A/C Installation...Ahhh!

Look at this little stinker! Is he the cutest toddler ever or what? Yes, he is into everything these days as this picture so accurately portrays, so we had to basically move to my parents' house for two weeks as our new A/C unit was installed. Can you imagine me trying to keep Carter out of the workers' way for two weeks? No Way!

 My poor parents were so good to us as we invaded their house, ate their food, dirtied up their towels and sheets and took over pretty much every square inch of their house :) Thanks BB and Papaw for taking us in! We had a blast with you!

P.S. Our house is so cool now...well worth all the inconvenience :)