The 14 Month Milestone

I'm a little delayed in celebrating Nate's 14th Month:)

It's such a memorable age for us because when our little Chris was 14 months we were welcoming little Lydia:) It's looks soo overwhelming now.... bringing home a newborn and having a just toddling toddler wanting to be held, too;)

Anna (2.5 years), Lydia (2 days old) and Chris (14 months)

And here they are from today:) (we made it!!!)

So to look and be with Nate now at 14 months... I am just amazed!! How did we do it??? Did I really have to chase Chris around this much?? Was Chris really this little when Lydia came home?? And he was!! :)

In so many ways and from soo many years no passed... those early Lydia days are a blur:)

So it's sweet to have these toddling Nate days and then see my grown little Anna, Chris and Lydia... such a bitter sweet reminder to CHOOSE to ENJOY each DAY and all that each day BRINGS... because they DO grow up soo fast.... I didn't really believe it was all that fast when I was diapering 3 bottoms each day in 2007;)

Onto some Nate Updates;)

The Stats

• Weight 22-23 lbs
  
• Sizes 18 and 24 months, some 12 month shorts/pants
  
• 2 naps:)
• Sleeps soundly and consistently through the night;)
• Finished nursing at 13.5 months :(
• Two molars came in... so 10 teeth!!

Foods

• Anything and everything;)
• Begs for broccoli, cooked carrots and green beans;)
• Potato chips has been his weakness
• Starting to recognize foods/boxes and makes his requests KNOWN

• Doesn't pass up any treats;) Sorry... had to share this picture again - his messy baby cheeks are adorable to me
  

New Tricks

• Climbing onto the couch
• Pulling stools & toys to stand on.... gets stuff off counters or onto sisters' beds
  
• Starting to hand us stuff when we ask:)
• or getting DOWN off stuff when we ask;)
• Sticking his face down into water
• Trying to eat with a fork (adorable!!)

"Bad" Habits

• Fussing loudly for things at dinner... leaving us to guess what he's wanting
• Wandering
• LOUD at church.... working on this;)
  
• HATES brushing his teeth
• Playing ON the kitchen table - usually accidentally knocking over leftover drinks
• Carrying around Doggie, Paci, burpcloths and Taggie blanket after/before naps ( too cute!)
  

Momma's Thoughts
I had been really enjoying the baby days with Nate. I wasn't always good at enjoying "baby days" before but I really had been with Nate.... when those seemed over with him it was sad!!

But these days with this busy, happy, full of life, adventurous little guy are GREAT!!! They are just soo much fun. Don't get me wrong.... we are BUSY, too, when he's awake!! I know sometimes I make it look like it's very HARD work... it can be!! I just adore the kids and the stages each is at. And I'm making a conscience CHOICE to ENJOY THEM and all that comes with them;)

I am soo very thankful for my once little crew of 3 that has turned into my super big helpers;) They watch after their busy little brother, too!! Sometimes it takes ALL of US :) LOL!!

While Nate stays super busy, messy and into EVERYTHING, he usually has the most pleasant little spirit about him. He's watching. He's smiling. He's running and playing. He's exploring. He's climbing.

He's a determined little fella... working hard to figure out how to accomplish what he wants!! And when one of us gets in his way or takes the "treasure" he will speak his mind... with fussing and grunts;)

I know we are soo blessed with our family!! I am in awe of the sweet family I have been given and get to enjoy them and raise them! What an amazing and humbling task!! I pray often for wisdom, patience, the right focus and stamina to keep up with them. So thankful that God hears the prayers of those who desire to seek Him, even in the midst of busy kid days;)

And because my little ones were looking like little patriots waving their flags... I'm linking up to I should be Folding Laundry;)

Throwback Thursday - Graduations

Well tomorrow is the BIG day for Brian (and US)!! He gets to walk across the stage and be officially, officially DONE with the PhD program!! Honestly, 6 months ago we didn't think we'd be excited about May 22nd....

but we are soo estactic and proud now. Brian really spent every moment he could getting everything done, definitely a "season of intensity" for all of us!! So we have MUCH, MUCH rejoicing and cheering to do tomorrow:)

Last night Brian and I were remembering our other SEBTS graduations we have celebrated together... so I thought I'd share OLD pics and memories:)

May 2002

This is Brian's graduation with his MDiv degree!! Here we are with the grad and Brian's mom.

We met during his last year of MDiv work!! So this was just 3 weeks BEFORE we were married!!!

So not ONLY were we pumped about Brian being finished with his MDiv we were in the midest of last minute wedding plans:)

May 2004

This was when I graduated with my Masters! So we'd been married for almost 2 years!

Can you tell that I was very, very pregnant!!! I was!! I was almost 39 weeks pregnant!! Uncomfortably pregnant... check out those ankles... gross!! Those we the ONLY shoes that FIT my swollen feet....

SEBTS (at least when I attended) you were REQUIRED to participate in the graduation service. So when I filled out my paperwork, I included an extra statement about how pregnant I was going to be at the time and that only thing that would prevent me from participating was labor... LOL!!

Graduation was on a Saturday, I went into labor with her in the wee hours of the morning Thursday and had her by lunchtime:)

It is fun to compare our family then to now. Now instead of worrying about the heat and pregnancy exhaustion like then, I have to pack a bag to keep three little hands and minds busy during a graduation service... especially with the PhD ceremony at the END:)

SO tomorrow will be another graduation!! This degree has been a LONG haul (7 years) but I am soo thankful for the opportunity Brian had. I know he has grown in his abilities as a writer, researcher, teacher, but especially in his faith. Under the Christain Philosophy program he has had to define his faith using Scripture, logical and historical arguements... he has examined them and has a stronger faith as a result of those "examinations"!

Throwback Thursday - Swinging

Lately we've been trying to teach Christopher how to "pump his legs" when he swings... it's always nice when they learn to swing by themselves!! We've still gotta ways to go, but seeing him in that "big" swing at the park reminded how BIG he is getting!

Tissue Issues & Throwback Thursday - Ballerina Again

I've had it in my mind to do a Throwback Thursday ever since last night. We were heading off to bed and my dear husband was patiently waiting for me and then giggled. He revealed the reason for his giggle....

He was looking at our wedding picture on the mantle and was thinking,"Isn't my wife beautiful" (sweet isn't he) and then he turned around to look at me snuggled on the couch with tissues up my nose.... hahhaa my nose seriously just wants to RUN and so I'm just waiting until it all runs out:) sorry for the details...

So I decided to post a Cuter Throwback...my beautiful little ballerina!! For her 3rd Halloween Anna, we dressed Anna as a "dancer" - she understood that:) But this year Anna actually wanted to be a ballerina and tried on her old ballerina costume. To our amazement the outfit still fit, although this will be the last year!!

October 2006

Last week at the pumpkin patch:)