Spicy Magnolia

Nine Months Down

Hello, ya’ll!  And a very happy Saturday to you!  If your kiddos or you are dressing up for Halloween, what are you all going as?  We have a little monkey crawling and climbing around here.  If you ask me, his costume this year is very befitting.  I couldn’t decide between an elephant, a bear, a moose, a monkey, or a giraffe.  And I’ve learned that when it comes to making decisions about clothes, costumes, or Christmas presents, I’m barking up the wrong tree when I look to my hubby for help.  Bless him.  So I wrote the costume choices on little pieces of paper, wadded them up, set them in front of Brennan, and let him pick.  A monkey was chosen, and a monkey was meant to be. 

Two weeks ago, my Chunky Monkey turned nine months old!

Little angel boy, this is what you were up to that ninth month of your precious life:

• A week into your ninth month, you became an official crawler!  You’re a fast crawlin’, pullin’ up, explorin’ machine!  This came at the perfect time because it helped you entertain yourself while Mommy was bustling getting ready for your dedication and her Country House reunion.  You’re ready to run the races!
• You LIGHT UP when Daddy comes home from brining home the bacon.  You give him the biggest smiles!  Daddy still gives me hugs and kisses first though; I’ve one-upped you on that.  <grin>
• You’re fascinated with Molly’s doggy door.  
• You ate your first French fry at McDonald’s, thanks to our friend, Miss Janna.  It was a very momentous occasion, and since then, I love giving you a fry every now and then for you to maul. 
• Naps took a hit for a good while since you wanted to continue your exploring, playing, and practicing of your new moves.
• You had your first haircut with Miss Judy.  It’s time for another one.
• You are a healthy eater, and I can’t name something off the top of my head that you don’t like.  You even gave Mommy’s taco soup a try that she pureed, although that was probably a least favorite…too spicy as of yet, silly Mommy!  You seem to not handle dairy products well and Mommy still needs to avoid them for your tummy’s sake.  Bananas, avocado, blueberries, and apples are your top favorites.
• You got rhythm, buddy.  When you hear music, you bob your head up and down to the beat.  You’re my music man.
• One of your favorite games is when you’ve finished your bottle and you’re sitting on my lap, I’ll declare, “I’m gonna get you” and pretend to sneak up behind you and wrap my arms around you in an enormous hug saying, “I got you!”  You’ll smile that great big smile of yours and play with me for a little bit until you’re ready to explore the lay of the land by trying to dive off my lap.
• You say “Momma, Momma” when you need something.  And “Da Da” made its appearance this month!  Whoop!
• You think very methodically about your mobility maneuvers, using the bottoms of our tables, chairs, and your high chair as jungle gyms.  
• This was the month you had your notorious diaper explosion of diarrhea, leaving behind a pool of it in your high chair.  Tending to you first, I left the horrific mess to clean up later, but a certain puppy that you love got to it first.  I was mortified.  MORTIFIED!  Two hours later, both you and Molly, your high chair and bits of our carpet all had a good cleaning.  I do not want to relive it ever again.
• You clap! 
• We’ve already lowered your crib to the lowest setting, and it’s a good thing, because I often catch you standing up ON YOUR BUMPER looking over your crib.  That bumper props you up an additional 3 inches.  I just hope I don’t find you propelling out of the crib one day.
• Your lone tooth that you’ve had for months finally has a pal.  Your second bottom tooth finally came in, and there are four huge, white knobs appearing along on your top gums that will be new teeth at any time.  Bless your heart!
• Your favorite thing to do at the park, besides play with rocks and sticks, is swing.    
• You soak up my kisslets, and on occasion, return my butterfly kisses with your whole face.
• You love my iPhone just as much as me.
• With all the sounds you’re discovering with your mouth and tongue, you are your own musical instrument.
• At 9 months, you weigh 19 lb. 10 oz. (40th percentile) and are 30 inches long (93rd percentile).
• Another favorite game of yours is chase, and it goes both ways with either me chasing you or you chasing me.
• You wave ‘hello’.
• You have a big bottle when you wake up and go to bed, eat three solid food meals a day, and then have smaller bottles for snacks.
• You like hanging out in the kitchen with me playing in the pantry. 
• You’re still sleeping through the night 10.5-11 hours and taking two naps during the day that last anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.  Mommy likes the longer naps.
• You now have been with us out of my tummy just as long as you were in my tummy.  Crazy!
• You have the biggest, brightest smile.
• You are my bestest little buddy in the whole wide world, and I have such fun with you!  You made me actually enjoy a baby!  <grin>

Face to Face

If you would’ve told me a few years ago that I’d have a blog, I would’ve laughed and dismissed it as a time-waster.  If you would’ve told me that from blogging, I would meet some wonderful people who would be the most encouraging blessing, I probably would’ve been a little skeptical.  Well, I did start a blog.  I love it as you well know, and wish I could add at least two extra hours to my day to blog more regularly.  And I’ve also befriended some amazing people through the blog world, whom I admire, respect, and glean from, with a dream to meet them in person one day (without them saying, “You’re who?  Meg from whatcha-ma-call-it?”  Sudsy Magenta?”).

Well, one of my dreams did come true this past weekend:  I got to meet a dear bloggy friend of mine in person for the first time!  I’ve been reading Sara’s blog for over a year now.  We journeyed through our pregnancies together, sharing a lot of thoughts and emotions in common.  She was one of my only friends who waited to find out if her baby was a boy or girl, too, so we stood strong against the more popular decision to find out the treasured information <grin>.  She also had a little boy, Aaron, who was born a couple of months after Brennan.  She has been a huge source of encouragement for me turn to when I had questions and concerns about pregnancy, and now we can continue to build on our friendship by being mommas to these two precious boys.

When Sara said she and her hubby, Jory, were going to be in New Braunfels for the weekend (they live in Tyler), and that they wanted to get together, I was beyond thrilled to finally meet face to face!  Our husbands graciously tagged along for our lunch at Chili’s in Buda and then we stepped into Cabela’s for a bit to look at the aquarium and stuffed animal collection that was quite spectacular.  As Jory pointed out though, why would they choose to stuff a chipmunk?  It was so tiny standing next to that deer! 

Look at this precious, adorable little boy!  And don’t you just love his bib?  There was no mistaking that this fella is crazy about his momma; the way he smiled at her made my heart melt.   

Here’s a picture of Aaron and his sweet momma.   She and Jory were so fun to hang out with and easy to talk to.  And it was great fun watching the two little boys gaze and smile at each other from across the table.  They were a hoot.  And look how BIG Aaron is!  He’s the same size as Brennan and two months younger! 

I am so thankful for this dream come true!  It was quite amazing for me to think about all we’ve shared over the past year and a half through blogs, comments, and emails, and now we had the opportunity to meet in person.  It was quite touching.  I’ve never been to Tyler, so we’ll have to head that direction some time soon.  <grin>

On our way home, I sat in the backseat to keep the tuckered boy awake until we got home to keep a catnap from ruining his real nap time.  On Sunday, he got to ride his first choo-choo train at the park with Daddy and play in the dirt.  He was a happy camper! 

 

Hope ya’ll have a great Tuesday!  We’re off in a little bit to make a park run for the second time today.  Yippee skippee for the oh so lovely Fall weather!

We Stand Committed

The weekend of September 27, some of our family came into town for Brennan’s dedication at church to witness our commitment made before the Lord to raise Brennan according to His grace and for His glory.  Our family also stood with us, pledging to help us with the huge responsibility and joy we have ahead of us.  For children dedications, our church has the daddy write a prayer to pray over their child before the congregation.  It’s always so special to hear the prayers of the fathers for their little ones. 

Mac & Julie, Matt’s folks, and my folks all came into town for the celebration.  Some highlights were our family dinners on Friday and Saturday nights; playing “Yahtzee” with Mac and Julie (they’re always our game buddies); going to Salado’s Silver Spur Theatre to watch Gone to the Dogs, a play that had a blend of live, vaudeville-style acts and classic silent cinema (it was a fantastic family oriented, small town outing that even Brennan enjoyed); and the luncheon we hosted after church that also included “The Ruts” and Jill’s folks, Bob and Jennifer.

One of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was after everyone left and Brennan was asleep for the night, and Matt and I were left alone in the quiet stillness of the evening, soaking in the blessing of the celebration as well as the gifts that were left by our parents and Julie.  One of the verses I’ve been working on memorizing has been Deuteronomy 4:9 which says, “Be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”  That verse comes from a spiel that Moses was giving the Israelites before they entered the promised land, reminding them of the awesome ways they saw with their very own eyes how He powerfully and personally moved on their behalf with an outstretched and faithful arm.  Moses also warned them to 1) not forget and 2) teach their children and the following generations.  Moses must have known the road ahead was going to be a tough one; time and time again he reminded the people to not forget, to obey, and to teach the next generations.

So Matt and I gave our parents (and any of our siblings who wanted to participate) an assignment to give Brennan something that represented the "things their eyes have seen" that are ways the Lord has shown His faithfulness, power, and might in their lives.  What are the things in their lives that the Lord has done that they’d want Brennan, the next generation, to know?  What are the ways the Lord has demonstrated His faithfulness in their lives that they hold onto and remember when the going gets tough that they’d want to make sure the next generation knows, too?  They could be as creative, simple, elaborate or detailed as they wanted. 

On Sunday evening then, Matt and I sat humbly in awe before the gifts from our folks and Julie that have the fingerprints of God all over them.  I take that back.  We sat humbly in awe before Him who has showed Himself strong to each of them time and time again, in significant, specific, and powerful ways.  He has been indescribable!  The written gifts from our family are treasures, legacies, that will be tucked away and given to Brennan at a time, we pray, that will be appointed and purposed by God.  

 

 Father, we thank you so much for the gift of our son, Brennan, and for the privilege and honor it is to raise him in Your presence and among family and friends who love You.

 We pray that an early age Brennan would come to know you as His Lord and Savior, that he would be someone who worships You in spirit and in truth for his entire life.

May You bless him with a sense of awe for Your mysteries, an inquisitive mind for Your Truth, and a childlike faith that carries him through all the seasons of his life.

 Jesus, may You be his first love, his rock, and his confidence; that in You, he may be strong and courageous knowing that You will never leave him nor forsake him.

 And Lord, we humbly ask that you would give me and Meghan wisdom, discernment, and grace as we begin this new role as parents.  Help us in our weakness to live the story of Your Gospel before Brennan in our daily lives, and may we see Your face afresh through Brennan’s eyes as he marvels at Your creation and discovers Your greatness for the first time. 

 

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

 

Spontaneous Pumpkin Festival Delight

Spontaneous:  “arising from a momentary impulse”.  Sometimes, there’s nothing like deciding to do something spur of the moment, flying by the seat of your pants.  Even as an inherent planner, I love a few carefree decisions made in the spirit of the moment now and then.  Last Saturday was perfect for such natural impulsiveness:  it was a delightfully overcast and chilly day (a rarity in Austin this early in October); it was Saturday and the beginning of a week off for the four of us to be together; we could dress in warm, cozy clothes that make us want to curl up and snuggle; Brennan has been all smiles and actually let us sleep in until 6:15 a.m.; and it was the first free, unscheduled weekend we’d had in weeks to lay low. 

I knew of a place in town that sells pumpkins that would’ve been fun to go and take a few pictures, but when I started flipping through a community newspaper we receive that outlines special events and came across a Pumpkin Festival at the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm*, there was no gettin’ around that we simply had to go!  We scurried to get ready for the day in record time and were out the door with Brennan and Molly in tow in time for Brennan to take his first nap in the car on the way there.  I was a giddy girl!  Matt also let me play Christmas music while we got ready (I’m forbidden to play it in his presence until Thanksgiving since I already maxed out my pre-Christmas season music playing for him). 

I can’t tell you how delighted my little heart was to dress my boy up in jeans, a red plaid shirt, and his first ever pair of cowboy boots (that have soft soles)!  Oh, my heart swoons for my two fellas.  And that precious pup of mine is as sweet as they come.  She felt most privileged she was along for the ride.  Once we saw “Dogs welcome on leash”, well, that just nailed it.  There was not a question one about her joining us. 

Hot chai drinkin’, hay ride crusin’, tractor ridin’, swingin’, sausage eatin’, live music playin’, pumpkin pickin’, picture takin’, hand holdin’, people watchin’, homemade baked goods buyin’ (and eatin’), all awaited us on that glorious Saturday morn’.  I’m sure glad I didn’t hastily throw away that community newspaper like I usually do!  And thanks, dear hubby, for puttin’ up with my early morning giddiness about our spontaneous decision even though you could barely open your eyes and the sun was still down.  I’m glad you have chai.

What was the last spontaneous thing ya’ll remember doing?  Do ya’ll have any fun, spontaneous outings/adventures that were special? 

*If you’re in the Austin area, this is the last weekend of the Pumpkin Festival, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking for something fun to do.

I’m Alive

You can call off the search parties.  I am alive.  And well.  Just a bit wind blown from the whirlwind our family has been in for the past five weeks.  On one hand, the whirlwind has been exhilarating, treasured, and memorable.  On the other hand, it’s been exhausting and stressful.  The stretch stress marks are apparent when you look at my more tightly fitting jeans after devouring bags and bags of Oreos, averaging a bag every two days.  Why am I admitting that?  I don’t know.  It somehow seems cathartic to confess it.  It’s shamefully true.  When I’m stressed, I eat.  I eat chocolate.  And now, I’m weeping over the fact that it’s so dang hard to lose the effects of binging on Oreos…or chocolate covered cashews that I bought for our house guests that I ate one night while they were sitting out in the candy dish…or piece after piece of chocolate Texas sheet cake.

Oh, wait, I guess I am alive.  But not well.  My body has been drowned by sugar.  That can’t be good.  That seriously cannot be good.  Someone help me, please!

It’s been so long since I’ve blogged that I don’t even remember where I left off.  In a nutshell, we returned home from El Paso to a sick husband who was in the throes of both a hectic work schedule while also prepping for a series of interviews for a potential new job.  We started an awesome music class and MOPS.  I cleaned the house top to bottom like it hadn’t been cleaned in nearly a year…’cause well, it hadn’t been and it needed it…badly!  I should buy stock in cleaning supply companies.  What were the boy’s small tummy crawl strides with grunting soon turned into one legged crawls every few feet.  But both of those are a thing of the past; not only do we have a full-blown crawler, he’s fast, pulling up on everything, and is having to quickly learn the word “no”.  We had Matt’s and my folks and my brother and sister in law in town for a few days for Brennan’s dedication.  A few days after that, the five girls I lived with my senior year in college came for a five-day reunion.  Our kitchen has been the center of constant activity and fragrant (I hope) aromas.  We accepted a job offer given to Matt, whose last day with his former employer of nine years was last Friday.  We’ll have a week off together and then his first day at the new job is the 19th.  We’re still trying to get Brennan’s nap schedule in order after dwindling down to two naps, which I think have been affected by all his motor development and the four teeth trying to pop through.  Argh.  Lastly, I’m slowly getting the house back in working order after all our visitors.  It’ll take me awhile to get caught up blogging about all our special events, but I wanted to check in and say ‘hi’.  Thank you sweet Internet peeps, for caring about me and checking in!

The first order of business to write about was Brennan’s eight month birthday…which was nearly a month ago!  Eee-gads!  These pictures were taken right at 8 months, and please allow me to back-track a bit to the things that marked that occasion.  

Oh, how your eyes still mesmerize me.  I could stare into them for hours if you let me.  But you’re too eager to explore a whole new world that is at your fingertips.  It’s getting difficult to read to you because you want to be on the move constantly. 

You are quite the observer, taking in new situations and environments like our Kindermusik class and the nursery at church and MOPS.  You quietly and very seriously soak up your new surroundings, and then when you feel comfortable, you are a passionate participant.  Two words have been used regularly by the nursery workers when they describe you:  a “joy” and a “doll”.  You learn a lot by watching; I will show you how to do something and then you try to imitate me, like when I showed you how to eat Puffs.  You have since perfected your pincer grab and love feeding yourself. 

You love to laugh…sometimes for no obvious reason (at least to us).  You could be sitting in your high chair and turn to look at Daddy and break out into a loud cackle.  Or after your bath, Daddy will bring you out all wrapped up in your towel for me to give you kisses and you’ll simply giggle.  You’re ticklish, too.  That is sure to bring on some giggles.  Molly sparks laughs often.

On our walks, we talk a lot about how God is our strength and that He is mighty to save.  With so many big decisions to make and upcoming changes in our family, and so many tough, tough things our loved friends and family members are facing, that Truth has been so important for us to believe and hang onto.

We watch kiddos waiting for the school bus in the morning now.  That first day of school, I lost it.  I was the odd woman pushing a stroller, wrangling a dog at the same time and weeping.  Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched parents taking pictures and videotaping their children climbing that big yellow bus for the first time.  Even as I see more and more of your legs as I look down at you in the stroller as they lengthen and grow, I hope time will be gracious.

Meems was the first one to coin you “a ham”.  When your great grandfather, Papa, saw you for the second time when we met him in Hillsboro for lunch, he also used the word “ham” to describe you.  Thus far, a number of other people have used it as well.  For Daddy’s sake, “a ham” is a phrase used to describe someone who is overly dramatic, one who enjoys being in the spotlight.  It is true.  You are a ham!

At eight months, you are a great little stander-upper, holding onto things well by yourself, even transferring on your own from a side table to the adjacent chair.  You are one brave explorer, needing my hands less and less.  <tear>  Your frustration with not being able to completely crawl is peaking.  Tummy crawling is helping with that though.  You’ve mastered sitting up from a tummy position, too.  We had to lower your crib to the lowest setting after catching you standing up!  You love to practice pulling up on the big basket and ottoman.  My most favorite move of yours is your pivot.  You go around n’ around in circles on your bottom!  There are two things you go for repeatedly:  Molly and my leather bound Daily Light devotional.  You are relentless toward those two.  And I think you’re quickly realizing what “no” and “no touch” mean, since Molly’s water bowl was the first no-touch item you set your sights on. 

You love the addition of spices I’ve added to your food:  ginger, cinnamon, allspice and even curry!  Swinging is your favorite thing to do at the park, along with playing with the rocks and sticks.

Your one tooth grin is killer!

I have to psych myself up to get you dressed and change your diaper because it could either go really well or be a complete screaming session accompanied by leg stompin’ action.  There are even times when you try to skedaddle your way out of it by flipping over.  Oh, we have your number, Mister.  You’re not gonna get out of a diaper change that easy.  I thought I had more time before tantrums immerged, but I was wrong. 

I leave you with something I wrote in my journal dated August 25, 2009:

I listened to a perfectly timed message from Beth Moore (Esther, session 4) about fear, and as I did, I was overcome by love for you.  I gripped your face and kissed your head long and hard.  You are a vast unknown to me, but not to be feared, even if you already have tantrums I don’t know what to do about.  One thing I do know:  you are full of joy, adventure, inquisitiveness, and excitement.  My love overflows for you, Brennan.  I am on a journey with you, little one.  A journey not to fear, but to be one brave momma.  I will take heart and not be afraid.  I will be strong and courageous and know that the Lord God is with me wherever I go.  (Joshua 1:9)