Tentative

Our life plans used to feel somewhat more concrete.  Now with kiddo in tow, plans have become much more tentative.  Like the time I left a friend's house recently just before a delicious dinner was served because William suddenly got a temp of 100.4.  And like this past Friday when I was so excited to head to Memphis where Matthew and I used to live and visit old friends for a whole weekend.  However, the trip got cut short due to little Will getting a pretty violent stomach bug.  Kids definitely keep you on your toes.  But they are so worth it!

The positives were...
...we got to spend some awesome time with our friends Ben and Emily Bailey eatin waffles and hanging out and just spending great time together.
...We were able to still see SO many familiar faces at a big church party Friday night and just spend time catching up with great friends.
...I got to deliver all twelve signs from my big summer project for the AMBER Adoption Fund Fundraiser.

And last but not least...

...We got some amazing local pizza and Jerry's sno cones.

This helps to balance out the not-so-positives, which would be William having about five blowout diapers back to back along with throwing up down my back and onto the poor Bailey's floor.

Tub time with buddy Abe

Quick pic before we headed back.  William is blowing a kiss.

Blowing another kiss.  He really loves to share his sugar.

Jerry's on our way back

I know he loves something when he opens up before it's on his spoon.

What couldn't be better when you've had a stomach bug?  I mean... you know I love this child when I give him half of my sno cone.

Hot Day at the Zoo

We spent this past Saturday checking out the Nashville zoo.  What was supposed to be a scattered showers kinda day turned into the h o t t e s t day of the year.  We stayed as long as we did only because we are gluttons for punishment.  William did really enjoy the animals until lunchtime, then he was just hot and tired and done!... as were we... but we pushed him so we could see more than goats and turtles and actually see a giraffe and elephant for the first time.  I'm thinking though that if we go again, it'll be October!!!

Apparently goats eat plastic

He loved the goats

100 year old turtle.  Poor guy!

Flamingos!

Practicing his walking skills some more

The way he tries to run is really cute.  It's like really fast stomping.

Lunch break with stroller doubling as high chair

Chowing down on his sandwich

Comfy

We wanted to go swimming in this pool really badly

Leaving and baby bump at almost 12 weeks!

hot.tired.wantanap.putmetobed.itsbeenreal. face

Picnic and a Playground

Now that William is walking!, he is wanting to get out and about more and do lots and lots of climbing and exploring.  He is loving playgrounds and will stay there all day if you let him!  When it's time to go, he points back to it and makes noises to tell us he wants to stay.

And being at the playground with this child is a two person job!  Matthew was at one end of slide while I was at the top... and William must have gone up and down, and up and down, and up and down again... at l e a s t thirty times before the sun was going down, it was 1.5 hrs past his bedtime, and we basically forced him to leave.

It's the simple things in life!

Enjoying his picnic dinner and being silly with daddy

Daddy: "Kisses?"  William: "Aggghhhh!!!"

smack :*.  Love that this captures both of their dimples.

Mommy's turn for some lovin

He thinks our teeth are hilarious

<3

Time to climb

Do you think he's enjoying himself?

Up the slide..

Back down... and up again...

...and again and again!

Next Little Joy

When I think of our next little joy on the way, I feel as if I've received a tremendous gift that I didn't deserve.  And I immediately think of this verse -

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! ~Matthew 7:11

I also think constantly of many friends and family who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, such great loss when it comes to receiving such a gift as a child.  Heartaches one after another.  Miscarriages and even surgical procedures to remove the life that once was.  I have shed tears and prayed on my knees asking our good Lord to grant such a gift to these women.  It would be petty of me to even pretend to know what that's like, much less to offer cheap encouragement.  This verse is just encouragement that we serve a God who is good, all the time, and that His gifts are always good, whether he sustains our next baby or does not.  We just can't know what is going on in the heavenly realms, but we know that there is much going on up there that we WILL one day know, if we trust in Him alone for salvation.

I've been reading from Job in the past few months, and the entire book is based on a decision made in the heavenly realms between God and Satan, that God would allow Satan to send trial after trial upon Job knowing Job would stand firm in his faith.  I mean, who wants to be that guy?  But it's a comfort to know that when we experience trial, we serve a God who is Sovereign over it.  And we may not know, or ever know, why... but He does.  And one day we'll be with Him.  And He'll wrap us up in His arms, and we'll then have all we've ever needed and will ever need for all eternity.

We are praising Him for this good gift that we do not deserve, and praying He would sustain this little life for His glory.  And praying (bc it's impossible to get this mindset without it!!!) I'd hold my children with loose hands so that their lives would be lived out for King Jesus...if it means I get them for a few years, for a lotta years, if God takes them many miles away or has them close to mama's arms.  I love you already baby H no. 2!  Thank you Jesus!

Two peas in a pod

Ducks

We are enjoying this 15 month stage with William so much.

He has FINALLY dropped his morning nap.  On most days anyway.  It sounds crazy that this would give a mama lots of excitement - less napping - but it frees us up for more exploring and less time within the house walls while babe sleeps the day away in his crib.  I mean, REM sleep is awesome... but my child has gotten enough in the past 15 mos to make him Einstein at age 12.

We have been able to take advantage of Will's newfound wakefulness for all sorts of new adventures.  One of this week's firsts was introducing him to feeding the ducks at a nearby pond in what we call the "fancy" neighborhood of Clarksville.  Although these particular ducks were spoiled and did not want to be fed.  But the GIANT catfish had a hey day!

The way William clings to daddy melts my heart

Matthew is such a sweet, nurturing, thoughtful, and fun dad to William

Catfish were too quick to catch on camera, but they were huge.

Waving to the ducks

Fancy

Don't need a paycheck... just need these two forever. 

Mommy-son shot before it's off to Chic-fil-A for dinner!