New Journal

I don't know about you guys but if I am ever in a "prayer funk" I always go out and buy a new journal and hope that that does the trick.  I used to go to Barnes and Noble and spend way too much money on a new journal every 6 months or so just to give me a jump start.

Well I think that used to work when i was in HS and college but not so much anymore, now I have to be intentional about setting aside an hour to open up my bible and to spend some "quiet time" with Jesus. A new journal and a cool new blue pen :) just is not going to get me there any more.

But why and when did it become such a burden? Something that I have to TRY and do, why can it not just be something that I do everyday because I long for Him? And I do! I really do, and each day that I have with my sweet boy or my amazing husband I see more and more my desire and definite need of my Savior.  But why is that desire not enough to get me to do it?

It hurts my heart and is such a heavy burden to go a week or 2 without even cracking my bible or really devoting any time to prayer. And I know that I spend time during my day talking to Him and praying while I am rocking my precious son, but that is not enough.  I desire to long for Him as much as He longs for me!  

1 Timothy 4:7 "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."

SO in this advent and in the coming holiday, CHRISTMAS, I pray that we all would sit down each day.  That we would be in a spirit of prayer and realize our constant need for our Savior. That we would dwell on the reason for this beautiful season. 

The other day Carter and I were talking about how amazing that one day Christ was a small child.  He was no bigger than my son, He could not speak, He could not do things for Himself, and He relied totally on His mother, Mary.

What a beautiful picture to remember. He was born into a lowly manger; just a child, relying completely on His parents, and He was Christ our Savior. 

And of course here is my sweet boy. Thank You Jesus for my family and for my sweet boy, Gabriel!

Nice Doggy

SO my son is officially a bully:)

This is him looking so so innocent, as if he has done nothing! 

Well...Momma has proof!

Exhibit A: This is my precious boy pulling Dukes ear. 

Now normally you would think "ohhh no big deal, big dog/small boy; the dog will be fine" 

Well not so much, Duke started yelping, i mean pleading for me to make the small boy child STOP!

Duke proceeded to crawl into my lap when i finally pried those chubby little hands off of Dukes ear. And for the rest of the night he stayed far far away from Gabe, he wanted nothing to do with him.

Look how nicely they can play together! Duke loves Gabriel. Always wanting to lick on him and sniff all of his little sweet body. 

I mean Gabriel can even stick his toes into Dukes eyes and he would just continue to lay there as if nothing had phased him....but, the ear pulling, now that was totally over the line.

JUST look at that face!!! How could Duke possibly stay mad or even sad at that face for longer than five seconds??  I mean I could just nibble on those cheeks right now!

On a side note: Gabe and I have been practicing saying "mamma"

He has perfected "dadda" and he can now say "babba" as in short for bottle

so now we just need to work on getting that "b" sound to be a "m" sound! 

I mean its never too early.....Right?

Holidays and New Sleeping Schedules

Well our Thanksgiving was nice and uneventful! We spent Wednesday and Thursday morning at my in-laws and then Thursday evening at my families.  We really enjoyed being with everyone and Gabriel enjoyed all of the attention.  My family seems to be growing by the minute.  On Thursday evening there were so many babies and little kids running around (4 babies, and then 4 little kids yelling and running through the house:)) you couldn't help but sit back and just smile and think, "this is exactly how it is supposed to be." I love children, i love family, and I especially love it when all of us are together enjoying a holiday and being thankful for what we have!

So the past couple of nights Gabriel has been replaced by some other baby; that is the only way i know to explain it.  Gabe is now 7 months old, and for the past 7 months he has gone to bed by either nursing or being rocked for 5 minutes and passing out. Well that is not the case any more.  Now i end up having to rock him for at least an hour, and we are not talking about a peaceful quiet hour, OH NO, we are talking a screaming thrashing fit of an hour.  This is NOT my child; my little man is a sweet, mellow, peaceful little guy.  I don't know what is going on, but I am ready for my baby to return and this other little guy to leave! Any one have any ideas on how to achieve that, please i am listening!