What the Little Man is doing....

In four short days, Steven will be one years old.  I'm very excited, but scared to some level because we are entering a whole new level of parenting and requirements from us to really guide him in becoming a strong, godly young man.
So this is what he's up to these days....
Standing quite well
Taking a few steps
Getting into EVERYTHING!!!! (as soon as the fridge is open, he "runs" to it and we caught his hands in the toilet ewww)
Pointing
Eating everything and typically will have exactly what we have for dinner
Drinking whole milk instead of forumula
He's gotten two teeth in the past two weeks and about to have another.
Has learned to pet the dogs correctly, which means not pulling their hair
Gives slobbery kisses
He loves Ms. Betty at MMO
Playing with Ms. Kathy,Matthew and Madelyn 
Saying:

Hey

Bye

Dada

Dog

Kitty (I've finally come to terms with this)

Pig

Ball

Good (to anything he wants to eat)
Bite
Bath (maybe)
Read
and finally today MAMA!!! Well, he's said it before but not to me repeatedly)
He's the happiest baby I've ever seen!
His smiles are the greatest!
In one word he is JOY.....

My how time has flown by, but so excited about what is to come.....

Today was one of those days....

Today was one of those days as a police officer's wife you are reminded that you have to be patient and calm while knowing they could possibly be in a very sticky situation and know that plans will always be subject to change.  Around noon as we were getting ready to leave for a nephew's birthday party, he was called in to help with a situation. He's never been called in before so this was new.  So quickly we scratched going to the party together and  Chad got dressed to go to work while Steven and I got ready to go to the party without him.  I'm not a flexible person; in my mind I would like to be one, but am not.  I hate changes in plans. While he was scrambling around getting everything together there wasn't much time to think about worrying, just thinking how I had to get to the store to buy our nephew's gift, go to the party without him and later that afternoon wouldn't be spent looking for Steven's 1st birthday present. But then quickly after he left I started worrying.  Then before going down that detrimental path, I started thinking about how I must learn to trust God will take care of him, that he will do what it takes to come home and I will learn to patiently, calmly wait and be flexible in our plans for the day.  I've learned over the past few years how to remain fairly calm but there's always a mental pep talk about there's no benefit in getting worked up. It's hard not to even start down the path of worrying, though.  In the end, he wasn't in too much danger, but it was another reminder I need to work on remaining calm and never take a day for granted. I still don't like that our plans changed and I had to go it alone, but tomorrow's a new day and we'll be getting Steven's birthday present then.

.. and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

I judge people; judge them a lot. It’s not something I’m proud of or realize I’m doing, etc, etc. Then on Sunday I saw it before even the scripture was fully read at the beginning of the sermon…I don’t think I’ve ever seen that part of the verse before..and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Wow!!

I can say I’m just making observations; it’s just how I feel. Oh, the excuses I make to justify it and then most of the time I honestly don’t realize I’m doing it. Now that’s just another excuse, but I think it’s the truth about the matter. It’s easy for me for whatever reason to be judgmental. And sometimes I’m really brutal towards others. I’ll forget there is anything positive about the person or situation. And that’s how it will be measure to me. Gulp!! So, I'm trying to stop and I guess it's selfish, but it cut me to the quick.  For the three/four days since seeing that and hearing the sermon I’ve tried really how not to judge. But it’s hard. But I'm still trying. Change begins with me; but it has to be God doing the change in me.



Don’t judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Mt 7: 1-5

Steven's First Concert

Since Steven was first born, Chad would play the recorder at his changing table. Recently Steven has taken up playing the recorder as well as Chad's french horn. So, in typical proud mommy lovin style, here's Steven's first concert for everyone to enjoy.

Making the Most with my Attitude

I sit here tonight having just put the baby to bed. The living room is decorated for Christmas with a tree, lights, and the new decorations for the year: high chair, exersaucer, almost finished bottle, toys scattered across the floor and a Criminal Procedures book. I never thought these decorations would bring so much joy to my life and sense of contentment. I always knew that a baby would bring joy, but never the elation. Everyday a miracle is seen in the development of the baby in our lives who is quickly “losing his baby face” as a friend said last week. The cliché that people say a baby will show you love more than any other is so true; truer than any other cliché out there.

The Criminal Procedures manual is what is so much more of a surprise in my life; I married an aspiring New Testament/theology professor, not someone who would become a police officer and quickly (not surprising to anyone in his life) rise to the level of narcotics investigator and SWAT member within 1 ½ years. This process through me for a loop, a bigger loop than I had ever experienced before and through it all I learned to accept the changes life has to offer and learn to enjoy them. But I never thought that the baby being born would throw me for even a bigger loop. We were very methodical in how we planned to be flexible, go with the flow, and both took off six weeks to ensure transition to life with a baby would have a sure foundation. However, it didn’t go quite as planned as life never does. I’m learning to make the most of life everyday and cherish every moment we have together.

Striving to be an eternal optimist is benefiting me this Christmas season as my entire family has congregated 14 hours from us; the first Christmas I’m a mom and the first Christmas not to wake up Christmas morning with my family. The decision was made not to join the family months ago, but was even more solidified this week and last as the baby came down with croup followed by a secondary infection. I was sulkingly accepting the reality, but not working on seizing the opportunity to rise above circumstances and enjoy what could be seen as unenjoyable. I did acknowledge that it would probably be easier than I was anticipating; anticipation being the culprit of my dread, so I decided to utilize the “coping mechanisms” I’ve learned over the past few years to make the most. Our Bible study this fall has really revolved around a change in attitude. One night Robin, the leader, was talking about a situation ears ago for her and I could totally relate; she looked at me and caring, but straightforward said “it’s the attitude.” It cut so quickly to my core and has continued to touch me so deep inside. My attitude is in God and my control and with his help I can change it and it will make my life better; so that is what this fall has been about and now this Christmas…changing my attitude to make the most of this blessed Christmas season.



Making the most of this Christmas means: having my husband’s mother, father, and brother over for brunch to see the baby and his new toys and then I’m cooking a huge spread for our family of three. I’ve decided to carry on the tradition my family started with having a trinket (for them an ornament) to commemorate a significant occurrence in each individual life that year. Our child (and to be children) will get a trinket of sort to be attached to their stocking. This idea came to me as we were at friends earlier this week. They had stockings for the mom and dad that had items on it that were significant to their individual life. The trinket of this year for the baby is a small red, sparkling trinket that spells “JOY” because he brings so much joy to our life; more than imaginable and totally worth all the changes that have been brought on this year by his presence. Now I see this Christmas as the most blessed one of my life and am looking forward to sharing the next two days mainly with my family of three.

Steven standing holding on by himself

I was sitting with my back to the around we go and trying to change Steven into pajamas when he reached over and grabbed the around we go. I moved out of the way and he stood there playing and cruising about a foot either way for about 5-10 minutes!

Not good quality but it was the only camera I could find. and yes, he was fine (see end).

Dada #2

For two weeks we couldn't get Steven to stop saying "dada" then he decided he was over saying it. Not sure what that is all about!?!?!