3

3 is a great number! Today Asher is 3! 

Asher David,

Your name suits you to a t!

Asher meaning happy. You make Mommy so happy, not a day goes by when you don't make me smile and laugh out loud. I love how you gallop when you are happy as you make your way to where ever you are headed. I love how you tell story after story and recount in great detail the events of the day or yesterday or 6 months ago. I love your big appetite and how hungry you always are (though you may need to plan on getting a job to pay for extra snacks as we do have a budget - you know). I love how you add "you know" to the end of half of your sentences you know. I love how smart you are - my clever little guy. I love your logic. You are a dangerous little dude as it is hard to say no to those sparkling eyes and dimpled cheeks when you ask in the sweetest voice for the things you desire (but sorry you can't have chocolate in your yogurt with out yogurt - nice try).

David meaning beloved and after your Pops and David of the Bible. You are so loved. Mommy and Daddy love you. Your brothers love you. Your Mimi, Pops, Graddad, Granny and all your Aunts and Uncles love you. Most of all you are loved by Jesus. You are brave and adventurous much like David in the Bible. You have a confidence that you can do things that no kid your age should be doing but you just go out and do it. It reminds me of how David knew and believed that God would defeat that mean 'ole giant Goliath and how he just went out there and fought the battle. I pray that you would grow and place your confidence in Jesus and that you would go out there and fight his battles, knowing the battle is already won!

Happy Birthday Asher!

Happy 1st Birthday Ezra!

Ezra Jordan,

Happy 1^st Birthday my sweet heart of my heart! I love you so much! You are my little tiny present from God.

Mommy and Daddy gave you a big name – a name we pray would draw you close to our God – Ezra Jordan.

Ezra after the Ezra in the Old Testament. Ezra was described as having “the hand of the LORD his God on him,” and one who “had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” My little Ezra my prayer is that you would have the hand of the LORD on you, that you would call the LORD your God, and that you would set your heart to study the Law of the LORD and to do it and teach it. Ezra is Hebrew for help. I pray that you would have the help of the LORD all your days and that in turn you would help others to know the LORD and know the help that is only found in Him.

Jordan after the Jordan River where so many miraculous things have happened, water stopped up so Israelites could cross on dry land, Naaman healed of leprosy and the Baptism of Jesus to name a few. Jordan is Hebrew for flowing down and we thought it fitting to name you “help flowing down” as a reminder to us all that our help comes flowing down from the LORD and we pray that it would continue to flow down into the lives of others.

I will also admit that during my drives to the midwife the last couple of months of pregnancy the song, The River by Jordan Feliz was always on the radio and at first I found it annoying but as I truly listened to the words I fell in love with the song. The song convinced me Jordan was the right name as it was firstly by Jordan and secondly and more importantly about The River – Jesus where our lives are changed.  So I will end my birthday blessing with the lyrics, though it’s better if you just listen to the song:

I know a place
Where we can go
To lay the troubles down eating your soul
I know a place
Where mercy flows
Take the stains make you whiter than snow

Like a tide it is rising up
Deep inside
A current that moves and makes you come alive
Living water
That brings the dead to life

We’re goin down to the river
Down to the river
Down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water
And rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
You will leave changed
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
Never the same

I’ve seen it move
In my own life
Took me from dusty roads into Paradise
All of my dirt
All of my shame
Drowned in the streams that have made me born again

Like a tide it is rising up
Deep inside
A current that moves and makes you come alive
Living water
That brings the dead to life

We’re goin down to the river
Down to the river
Down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water
And rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
You will leave changed
Let’s go down, down, down to the river
Never the same

Half A Year

Ezra is half year today! Happy 6 months buddy!

Weighing in at 11 lbs 7 1/2 oz. Standing (or laying) roughly 24 1/4 inches. Wearing 6 month clothing and size 1 diapers. Ezra has been weaned from supplements and is fed from mommy only. He has 1 tooth and 1 on the way (which does not make mommy happy - where is that bottle?). Ezra sleeps for one 5-6 hr stretch a night. He will not nap for longer than 15-20 minutes unless mommy is wearing him in the beco. Ezra likes to be the center of attention or at least have a parent, sibling, dog, grandparent, friend or stranger making eye contact with him and then he's happy. He likes to jump. He can roll over both ways. He has good hand eye coordination and can shove just abut anything he grasps in his mouth. He loves string and rope and hair - all of which he pulls. Ezra is doing great!

Geckos and Rhinos

Geckos and Rhinos? What on earth do those things have in common? Observe these conversations:

Me: "You have searched me Lord and you know me"
Jude: "You have searched me Lord and you know me, Shiloh you say it then I'll be the gecko."
Me: "what's a gecko?"
Jude: "we did it at school today, I did it with Mrs... not Mrs. Lamar, the other one."
Me: "Mrs. LeCompte."
Jude: "Yes."
Shiloh: "You have searched me Lord, you know me."
Jude: "You have searched me Lord, you know me."
Me: "Oh, echo"


Chad and I having returned from dinner out in the Caymans, Christy put the boys to bed.

Christy: "So the boys asked me to sing the rhino song tonight, I have no idea what that song is, so I youtube searched for it and got nothing, what is the rhino song?"
Me: "I have no idea...hmmmm...they like me to sing the arky song but there are no rhinos in it...."
Chad: hmmmm....
Me: "what on earth?"
Christy: "I have no idea"
Chads: Singing to himself songs we sing to the boys "this rhino, Jesus loves me?"
Me: "Jesus loves me this rhino, for the Bible tells me so..."

my kids may need hearing exams....



Jude at school.



Shiloh decorating bday cupcakes.



Morning Asher.



Smile Ezra.

Bulking Up

Ezra has been bulking up. He is now 11 lbs 4.2 oz! LOL! He is still a tiny guy but the good news is that with a birth weight of 5 lbs 5.5oz he is now back on his growth curve (which is not on the charts)!

Yesterday we had our final follow up with the pediatric dentist who took care of his tongue tie and lip tie and she released us from her care and from all mouth exercises. I've met with a lactation consultant and Ezra's latch is now great. He is nursing well and we are now on a plan to wean him off supplements (which is for me an arduous process - because I have to track everything - and I'm an ESTP (myers brigg personality type) we don't do tracking and schedules and writing things down well). Once he is weaned from supplements I will wean myself from the medication I am taking to increase my milk supply. So hopefully we will be done with this whole process in a month or two (if I survive the scheduling - I feel my life slipping away just thinking about it).

Happy weight gain to Ezra!

Before

Before

Sorry its not the greatest but this was Monday.

After

After

6 and 4

There are no 5 year olds in my house. There are no 3 year olds in my house. We now have a 6 year old and a 4 year old!

Happy 6th Birthday Jude:

Jude,
You are my special little guy. You made me a mom. You are my first. I love you so much! Jude you are a smart and witty guy, you make people laugh with your cute comments and your well thought out ideas. I love that you love legos. You are great at building things and figuring out how to make things work. When you put your mind to learning something I am amazed at how quickly you master what you have determined to master. You have a great imagination and I love to see you slay dragons, rescue your sister (pretend sister...), capture the bad guy with your lasso, and use your ninjago skills to save the day. You love stories and it makes me glad to share them with you. You love to climb, anything that can be climbed you climb, carefully at first finding every hand and foothold you can. Jude you are an amazing big brother, you play with Shiloh and Asher, you talk to and hold and help feed Ezra, you look out for them, you help them, you are ready to protect them when they need. I pray Jude that you would use the life God has given you to bring him praise, that is what Jude means, "praised one or one who brings praise." I pray that you would be a courageous warrior, which is what your middle name Caleb means, standing up for what is right, for those who need someone to stand up for them. Jude use your imagination and ability to figure things out to solve problems and bring God glory. Jude use your love of stories, telling and listening to tell the Biggest Story - the only Story that matters, the Story of Jesus. Jude continue to be a big brother to Shiloh, Asher and Ezra and learn to be a brother to your family found in Jesus. Jude this year I pray that you would grow and that as you climb your way through life you would keep your eyes on Jesus - never take your eyes off him and let him be your hand and foothold. I love you little guy. Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Shiloh:

Shiloh,
You are my sweet little man. I love you so much! Shiloh you are so smart. You are kind and caring. You think about other people and how you can help them and what they need. You are quick to help Asher and Ezra when they are upset. You are not afraid of hard work - in fact you welcome it. When I see you helping Daddy with the yard, carrying heavy things for me, working alongside Granny or Mr. Joe my heart swells with pride and the man I see you will one day become. You have a wonderful imagination and I love it when you ask me to call you "Luke," as you fight Darth Vader and the dark side, or "King Edmund, but not high king because Peter is high king," Edmund is my favorite too, or "Kai" the red ninja. You are always fighting on the right side - for good and not evil. Shiloh I love that you love stories and I love to snuggle with you and read. I love that you love to play board games  and I love that you are getting so good at doing puzzles. I pray Shiloh that you would grow and discover who God has made you to be. I pray that you would continue to share a heart with Jesus showing love, being kind and caring. I pray that you would keep helping people. I pray that you would never tire of work - for God made us to work - that you find the work that He has for you and that you would do the work he gives you to bring him praise. Shiloh I pray that you would always see Jesus and choose to be on his side, and a soldier for him. I pray that you would hear and share the Story of Jesus. I love you Shiloh, my little man. Happy Birthday!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Jude is off this morning for his first day of kindergarten. Boy was he excited! We woke up (I had coffee) ate breakfast (yummy peanut butter chocolate chip baked oatmeal...its got oats so therefore is breakfast...), Jude brushed his teeth, dressed himself (picking out his uniform), and combed his hair. We got there a few minutes early so as to be able to park. Got devoured by mosquitos and after giving his teacher a "survival kit" I said goodbye. Do you think I cried? Of course not. Hahaha! What an exciting new adventure for Jude - though its been all of 30 minutes since we left and Shiloh, Asher and I miss him already.

Happy first day of school buddy!



Jude's first day of kindergarten - August 22, 2016



Sign and Teacher Survival Kits



Shiloh though staying home needed a first day picture too!



Jude, Shiloh and Asher with Bradley Bear (TCS mascot)



Jude and The Bear



Daddy and Jude together at school - first time that Daddy will on a daily basis be closer to Jude than me - Hard to tell who is more pleased with this arrangement



Mom, please stop taking pictures and leave, I have important learning to do - he smiled for me though - love this little guy to pieces!