14 Months

I better get this posted before he turns 15 months...

Brady, you are 14 months (almost 15) as of February 16, 2013.  You get sweeter & sweeter with each month that passes.  Here is what you are up to...

Size 4 diapers
8 or 10 teeth
Size 5-6 shoe
Weight 19lbs 2.5oz at your last Dr appt (2/28)
Length 

You are still nursing but we are working on weaning you.  You only nurse at night and in the morning.  I did let you nurse during the day when you were sick first part of March.  But tonight (3/15) was the first night EVER, I was able to just read to you and then put you down without nursing.  You didn't even shed a tear.  I asked you if you were ready for night-night and you said "ya", I put you in your bed (with a sheep figurine) and you didn't make a peep.  I'll admit it was rather sad for my momma heart.  You are becoming so much more independent, which I love and dislike because it means you are growing up!

 

You talk more and more all the time.  Currently, you can say "momma", "dadda", "papa", "dawwg", "meow", "bite", "eat", "chee" (cheese), "ya", "no", "baybee" (baby), "hi", "hey baybee", "We-no" (Reno), "nigh-nite", "side" (outside), "dri" (drive), "Nene" (Mimi), "Nanna", "oh!", "down", "done", "ba" (bath), "da", "nee-ne-ne" (when you go to drive a car/tractor), "kitty kitty"

You also love to sing and dance.  You often walk around the house singing "baybee baybee, bobby, baybee" and it is beyond precious!  We often have dance parties in the living room.

You are a CLIMBER! 

 

You love to climb on anything and everything.  You can climb on to the couch, recliner, rocking chair, and kitchen table chairs all by yourself.  I can't keep my eyes off you!  Thankfully, you are very sure footed.

You are starting to independent play, which makes my heart so happy.  You love to play in your room.  I often find you just playing in there or will hear you from there, singing, talking, and just being so delightful.  Books are becoming more of an interest.  You will sit and look at books for a good while during the day.  You also love to throw all your books off your book shelf and then say "oh!"  You love books with flaps or cut-outs, but your favorite is your tractor book.

And your a really good "helper!"

You are the SWEETEST boy ever!  You love to give hugs and kisses (open mouth kisses).  During the day, you will walk over and hug me or want us to pick you up so we can hug or give us kisses.  It is sooo sweet and precious!  You also give daddy kisses when he leaves for work and hugs when he comes home.  Reno also gets in on the loving.  You will chase him around wanting to hug & kiss him.  Warms my heart to see you be so sweet and loving.  I hope that never stops!

Even though you still nurse, you are such a good eater.  Eating us out of house & home lately!  Typically for breakfast you eat a scrambled egg, bacon, and toast or waffle/pancake with fruit or cheese.  For lunch, leftovers or grilled ham/cheese sandwich or chicken/cheese quesadilla, pasta, fruit, cheese.  For dinner, whatever we are eating plus normally fruit.  For snacks you love goldfish crackers or Annie's cheddar bunnies, string cheese, blueberries, banana with peanut butter, crackers with hummus, black olives, pickles, and cucumbers.  We give you whole milk (with chocolate in it) normally in the morning and during dinner.  We started during the chocolate to help with putting on weight & I think it might be working.  The rest of the time you drink water.  You tried fried fish for the first time this month at cousin Ace's birthday party.  Since then you've had it 2 other times and have had salmon.  We also tried peanut butter for the first time this month, which you loved!  And so far...no allergic reaction, yay!  You also had your first hamburger...a Whataburger AND a Freddy's steakburger.  Yummy!!

Unfortunately, this month you also had your first real sickness.  The flu.  You also had your first busted lip and goose-egg on your forehead.  All in the same day.  :( so sad!  But neither really seemed to phase you.

SO thankful for modern medicine!  Perfect on the left was taken the same day as the one on the right.  After a trip to the Dr's office and a hefty Rx bill, you started feeling MUCH better!  Praise the Lord!

You have an incredible memory!  Like a steel trap, I say.  I took you to the new Petco ONCE to see the animals and then we went back a few days later.  As soon as daddy got you out of the car, you started "meow, mow" and "dog" like you remembered from the time before.  Cats are you new favorite animal.  You love to see pictures of them and "meow" when you see them.



B...we love you more than anything in this world!  We love watching you learn and grow!  You make each day better than the day before.  You amaze us everyday with what you say and do.  You are like a sponge, soaking up this big ol' world.  Life with you is such a delight!  You bring us so much joy and we pray everyday you will have a heart for Jesus and seek His will for your life.  We pray you to conform to His word and not this world.  We are SO proud of you and can't wait to see what kind of toddler you become.  This is such a fun age with you.  I never want to forget these days together!  I just wish time would slow down some...can't believe you'll be 15 months tomorrow!  We love you sweet boy!!!  And I am sooooo thankful God picked me to be your momma!

BIG Blog Sale Link-up

Today I'm linking up with Lamberts Lately

I have a boutique and I'm clearing out items that I just need to get rid of.  Items I no longer sell or just have 1 item left in inventory.  Most items are listed at wholesale prices.

 Crochet headbands, I have several of each color

3 inch $1.00

Colors available: red ,hot pink, pink, pale pink

1 and half inch $0.75

Colors available:  turquoise, white, red

Shipping $1.00

Monkey Toes Brand shoes, NEW (never been worn, in original box)

$10 plus $2.50 for shipping

Red & pink zebra/star boutique baby blanket.  NEVER been used.

$15 shipped

Petite Bebe Smocked Lamb Bubble, NWT, size 6M (runs more like a 3m)  Perfect for Easter!

$22 shipped

A&M nightgown.  Size 16Y but could easily fit woman's small or petite medium.

$16 shipped

Ishtex Cotton Blanks (100% cotton), NWT, Sizes 5, 6, 6X/7

$18 shipped - will add a single initial on the front for no additional charge

"Grace" embroidered onesie and ruffle pants, size 6M

$16 shipped

See something you love?  Comment below with Paypal address or email me at mrsnancy{at}gmail.com

Thanks so much for stopping by & taking a look!

Back in the saddle...

Before I started teaching, wayyyy before I had a little one I did some sewing/embroidery on the side.

Now that B. is a little older and I'm itching to "work" to help buy off some things (thanks to Dave) I'm using my God-given talents to get those things done!  In order to do something much bigger, which I can't yet reveal.

So I'm back in the saddle (eh or sewing room), my friends.  Back at what I am passionate about and love doing!

Say hello to my new friend...

And "LIKE" us on Facebook for new designs & updates!  I'm currently doing a give-away to help spread the word.  We also have an Etsy shop where I just added this adorable lil' number.  Love!

Cousins at Texas State Aquarium

President's Day, which was February 18th I believe we took a little trip down to the Texas State Aquarium.  B's cousins were in town for the weekend and we took advantage of the holiday (for very few) and took them to see the fishies.

We got there shortly after it opened and since most people were working/in school, it was practically empty.  Except for the slew of kids on a field trip, but we just avoided whatever area they were in.

Can you find the seahorses?!

This was Brady's first time to the aquarium.  He seemed to really like the aquarium part when we went to the zoo in November so I thought he'd love it.  Well, I wouldn't say he loved it.  He more liked than loved it.

But we still had a really good time!  And J & E were great with Brady.  Such great helpers!

Brady did love the dolphin area!

Love the next series of photos.  Dolphins are simply amazing!

 

 There he/she goes...

 
Looks like someone had a fun time...love him!

What a fun way to spend the morning with your cousins!

This is my desire... (confessions of a SAHM)

 

Over sushi one Friday, I was talking with a good friend about being moms.  Parenting.  How we as moms often feel like our lives are one balancing act.  Yet nothing is in balance.  It's more a spin out of control, where has the time gone act.

She is a working mom.  Which I simply admire her so much for.

And to be honest, envy at times.

As we sat talking, she mentioned how she wish she was me.  How she wishes she could spend with her daughter the way I spend time with Brady.  I thought honestly who in the world would want to be me?  There is nothing glamorous about me or my life as a stay at home mom.

I humbly told her that I don't know how she does it.  Being a mom and working.  Takes a much stronger woman than me.  Then she said something that strike me.  "No, I think you have it much harder than I do."

I agreed there are days it's a real struggle.

But then I had to ask myself what is the real struggle?  The constant little person I have to tend to or the constant little person inside myself.  Known as pride.

Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of having a family.  I envisioned my life has a picturesque one.  Dream job?  Stay at home mom.  I mean if you've ever played the game "MASH" then of course, your life was going to be nothing short of wonderful.

Then you grow up and realize the game of MASH was so superficial and portrayed nothing what life would truly be like.  Even more so when you start to realize that this life isn't about things.  If only it was as easy as writing down your 5 dream cars & careers, the number of kids you'd like to have, the cities you'd like to live in, and your dream guy on notebook paper.

Our hearts, eyes, and minds become cloudy with the things of this world.  And this is where I find myself.  Being cloudy by my own wants and desires.

All grown up.  Living that life I dreamed of as a little girl.  With my dream job.  In a house thankfully, not a shack nor a mansion.

So why is it such a struggle?  Why do I envy my sweet friend who is a working mom?

Why am I not overflowing with happiness with this beautiful life that I've been given.  After all, it's everything I've always wanted and desired. 

Well from my past struggles, I've learned God does his best work when we struggle.  When we have no choice but to seek Him.  Seek His desires for our life, rather than our own.  Seek His Kingdom, rather than the world.

As I struggle with being a stay at home mom, I often find myself in awe of what God is showing me through His eyes and not my own.  Through His strength and not my own.  I also find myself drawing near to Him for every aspect of my life.

While drawing near to Him, I'm learning His desires for my life, look different than what my desires look like.  Learning that my purpose here is not to have those granite counter tops I dream of or that vacation I feel like I deserve.  Yet it is to serve Him.  To serve Him with all of being, not  just the parts I want.  It is about finding joy amidst my struggles.

Jesus tells Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:19, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." To which Paul replies, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Serving Him means serving my family.  Serving Him in my house regardless of what kind counter tops I have.  Or the job I have.  And delighting in my weakness, hardships, and difficulties.  Lord knows being a mother means all of those things plus more.

I can't pray for Him to use me, yet still be wishing I had the things of this world.

"In order to be used, we have to be broken..." -Jeremy Camp

Before I had Brady, we prayed about whether or not I would return to work or if I would stay home.  Obviously we felt that I should stay home.  It was what was best for our family.  We decided we would give up our own desires in order to follow God's desire for our lives.  Our motto has always been, "we can always make more money, but we won't be able to back Brady's childhood." so that's what I've clung to.

Because honestly, staying at home as been way more challenging than I could have imagined.  For so many reasons but the obvious one being financially.  I sit and think of all the things we could be doing if I was still working.  Like those granite counter tops, that vacation to Disney I've always wanted, and high-lighted hair every month.

Clinging to the things money can buy is only destroying what God really wants for me.  Clinging to superficial things is a sin.  Clinging to any thing other than Jesus is what Satan wants for me.

The reality is Jesus doesn't want my life to be motivated by money or career but by Him alone.  And what His will and desire is for me.

As I sat in my car Wednesday at the water's edge, cellphone dead, baby asleep in the back, sun-roof opened, Matthew West coming through my speakers I sat in silence as tears rolled down my cheeks.  I felt so alone, broken, and weak.  I grabbed my Bible and Lysa TerKeurst's book and began to read.  Something I haven't done in some time due to just going through the motions.  As I read I began to see the bigger picture of my life.  Not just the mundane tasks I face everyday.  Not all the tangible things I didn't have, yet all the treasures I do have.  Treasures that I'm storing up not here, but in Heaven.  But mostly, I begin to feel God's grace fall and walls start to crumble.  Walls that had built up since staying home.  Trying to justify "my job" as a SAHM, to no one but myself.

I had started to believe the lies that Satan was telling me.  I had started to doubt my decision of staying home.  I doubted my purpose here on earth.

Then I read this on page 126... 

Ouch.

The underlined parts hit me like a ton of bricks.  Brady woke up as it was time for the Farmers Market to open and I drove away feeling like a person.  My heart overflowed with joy!  My soul refreshed. 

Satan wants me to doubt my job as a stay-at-home-mom or my job as a mom in general.  He wants me to believe I have no worth since I don't make X amount of dollars.  He wants me to believe I can do better.  He wants me to believe that all those things, such as freshly highlighted hair will make me feel better or bring me happiness.

Of course it will bring me happiness, but it will not bring me joy!

"This is my desire to be used by you..." 

My desire in this life is to do whatever God has called me to do and do it with great pride and joy!  Not with a bad attitude because I feel like I never ever have a clean house.  Or because I feel like I never get a break.  Or because I can't afford a certain something.

I don't want those things to control me or my life.  I don't want Satan to have that kind of power over me.  I don't any mother or person to ever feel that whatever they do in life doesn't matter.  Because it does matters.

God created us to desire Him.  To crave Him.  To follow Him.  Not to follow things of this world.  Or follow the "shiny" things in life, like shiny new counter tops ;)

Desiring Him, means fulfilling your purpose.  Which means my purpose as a mom.  I was made for this job.  And there is no greater job.

But I can't do it on my own strength.  So that's why I have to chase after Him, instead of chasing after the wind.  Ecclesiastes 1:14 says that man's pursuit of the things of this world "are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."  Lysa TerKeurst has this to say about that, "Busyness, chasing after achievements, and filling our days with man-made idols will leave us feeling empty and breathless.  We must fill our days with a rich relationship with God in order to feel fulfilled."

I have to ask Him daily to empty me of all the things that don't belong (my pride, my selfishness, my desires, my wants) and fill me up with the things He wants for me.  Fill me with things that do matter.  Fill me with the things only He can give.

Joy.

Peace.

Comfort.

Reassurance.

Grace.

Love.

My home is my mission field.  Brady's heart is my mission field.  Which means my job as a SAHM does matter and it is where God has called me at this moment in my life.  Not in the classroom teaching, where I wish I was some days.  So I will allow myself to rest in that, knowing that there is no greater joy than following what He has called me to do.  Even if it hard or not as glamorous as I envisioned as a young girl.  Even if it means formica over granite...

So I will cling to my desire to be used by Him where ever that may be.  And I'll continue to be incredibly humbled by His love for me.  I hope you can find rest in whatever you are doing, where ever you may be doing it.  What ever your mission field may be; whether it be a stay at home mom, a working mom (which I applaud you!!!), or one of those longing just to be a mom.

May His desire be your desire... 

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9