Dinner and a movie

                                                                           Rain

Salad

Baked Spaghetti

Rocky

I've got to admit, I'm excited =)

Just Ride

     Cannot tell you how many times these words have come out of our mouth to our 3 and half year old Ryan. It is becoming next to the norm for Ryan to check with me to see if I have keys when coming out to the car, make sure we are on the right road to get to Walmart, and to make sure I have right cart and Scott secured safely. I would say that it is all part of just being an older brother and learning to look out for him and everyone else....BUT Ryan has been doing this type of thing since he was 18 months. I can still remember him pointing and crying when we wouldn't turn on Mamaw's road. Since that time he is super attentive about where we are going, why, who's going to be there, and how will we return home.  Josh and I have become so accustomed to hearing him try and make sense of and control all situations that we just laugh to each other and say, "Ryan Just RIDE!" :) We know where we are going and we will take care of all the details you do not know! lol - Another glimpse, as Jerry mentioned in his sermon, of how God views us.
       Jesus told Martha, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:41 Not sure if this describes you, but it certainly does me.  God in his grace looks down on me and says, "Carrie, you worry about many things..." He is in the driver's seat and knows exactly where he is going. I'm so glad for that.
   

Giving our kids what's (really) best for them

     I think there is something in all mothers, and in all parents for that matter, that wants our children to have things and get "nothing but the best" or better than what we had growing up. I can't help myself but to pause and almost give in when Ryan and I ride by Jack Frost or the toy section in Walmart. Something inside of me wants to see his face light up and smile and be satisfied (atleast momentarily.) And to be real honest occasionally I just want to avoid the tantrum or sad face that results by me saying "no not today." But what I have found as a parent is that the more I say "no" the more Ryan seems to be content and satisfied with that answer. Hearing that word often seems to do him good. However, the more I give in and say "yes" to something that I know I shouldn't say yes to, the more expectant and entitled he seems to become. For example it makes sense to me that after watching two of his favorite TV shows Ryan would be happy and content the rest of the day. He would not ask for it anymore because he has had his fill. It always surprises me that when he gets what he asks for (TV, a toy, icecream, etc.) he is usually not content and satisfied with it. Instead after the show goes off and I turn the TV off feeling happy that he got what he wanted, I am shocked by the fact that he falls in the floor and seems mad. I want to say, "Are you ever satisfied?? Can you not be content with what you are given??" The sin nature in Ryan (and all of us) is so strong to selfishly push for whatever he wants and then not even be satisfied when he receives it but instead just want more and more. Isn't this in all of us? Without Christ giving us his spirit and the self control to make decisions according to the spirit we are the same. That new bedroom suit only makes us desire a new comforter set and curtains to match. 

Growing up I remember asking my parents for things and frequently hearing "no we can't", "no not today", or "no we don't have money for that." When I was very young I remember thinking that when I grew up and had children I would try harder to provide for them and give them more to make them happy.

But from this, I developed something that I would only realize was there as an adult. I developed the ability to tell myself "no" often in life. Because frivilous things that I had whined for had frequently been "shut down" so to speak I began to shut them down myself as I grew older. I also became resourceful as an adult and if I didn't have something I would try to create something that would make due or just wait it out until a birthday or Christmas. I am now extremely thankful for the "NOs" I often heard growing up because what I have found is that true satisfaction does not come from anything of this world. I hope to instill this into Ryan and Scott as my parents did for my sister and I.

To make this practical: 

It is really healthy to take your kids into the Dollar Store or even ToysRUs and let them know ahead of time that you are there to pick out a friends birthday present. Getting in the habit of thinking about someone else in our favorite store is so good for them. 

Refuse to pick up something in Walmart to appease your child just so you can accomplish your shopping. Let them know that you only have money for the items that you came to buy and nothing else.

Make special trips to Jack Frost or the Dollar Store for things just for your child. Don't just swing by or give in because your child thinks you should. You are in control of the car and where and when you go somewhere. 

Say "no" to things more often than you say "yes". That sounds harsh doesn't it? Living your life in honor to Christ will force you to say "no" more often than "yes". Let them get into the habit of that. 

What a face! =) 

A surprised look! =)

A laugh today

This is what Scott, my 14 month old does when I say "Smile!"

This is what Ryan, my 3 and a half year old, does when I say "Smile."

lol - Every time I look at Ryan's I laugh. These pictures are soooo him and for sure the stage that he is in. In the past I have gotten frustrated with Ryan for not making that "picture perfect smile" during photo shoots. But I am learning.....When doing the professional photo shoots don't say "Smile!!" Just say something like, "Squirrels poop in the woods!" That is sure to guarantee a true laugh and smile, not to mention your perfect photo. =)

Just to see you smile...

Today Scott smiled on command for the first time while we were having snack time. I grabbed my camera and captured a few shots and then got tickled as I remembered Ryan at this same age smiling for the first time. They have the same smile!

This is Ryan smiling for the first time on command at 13 months.

Chin up high!

This is Scott smiling for the first time on command at 13 months.

He is so full of himself!

Can you tell who is who? =)

A Busted Lip

This week while I was cleaning out our laundry area, the boys were playing with an infant swing. They were giggling and having such a good time together on it! I had a thought that maybe it wasn't the best idea. Scott still doesn't understand balance very well and Ryan has zero judgement about situations he might put his brother in... and then i had a feeling...like that mother intuition feeling that something was getting ready to happen. Even though i had that feeling I ignored it and figured that they would be fine because they were having so much fun together on it. Well, I turned my head to finish cleaning and almost immediately I heard a loud scream. I ran in the room to find Scott holding his breath (as usual) and Ryan frozen. I scooped him up as blood was pouring out of Scott's mouth all over his clothes, my clothes, his face. I found the passy, put it in his mouth and sat and rocked him letting the blood just seep out on my shirt. It was actually the shirt I bought on our honeymoon at a Salty Dog Cafe. It is ragged and torn after 7 years of wear but I have always kept it to remember. Our lives have sure changed since then! Now it will be torn, ragged, and blood stained.

As it turns out Scott must have somehow fallen out of the swing, hit the base with his mouth and with his lower teeth, bit into his upper lip. It was the worst busted lip I had ever seen. He couldn't eat dinner that night because it hurt him so badly! He has actually busted it open 3 more times since the accident because it is so tender. He is a very busy boy! Thankfully it is now beginning to heal and not be so sensitive for him. He is such a dare devil and has no sense of fear! I hope this is not a glimpse of the injuries to come!

Doesn't seem to upset here does he?

The Doctor said to watch for nerve damage to his teeth! They aren't even in yet!

Bottom two teeth are in good!

Their sweet daddy got them popsicles to help the swelling.

Ryan is thinking this all worked out pretty good for him! =)

Shots are NO FUN!

Well the title says it all doesn't it? It has been a couple of years since Ryan had his 1 year shots so I had obviously forgotten how tramatizing those little shots can be! (for me of course) So without thinking I didn't even mention to Josh that he had an appointment until the night before. I have gotten accustomed to doing the whole doctor thing by myself so that Josh can work and not have to take half the day to come. (He did come to every single pregnancy appointment tho!)

Well the appointment was a little more than I had bargained for. For starters Scott was in a very loud and lively mood that day. He is normally pretty chill, but not today. When the nurse called us Ryan eagerly told her that we were not there for him, but for Scott. =) He knew what was coming! So the first thing they did to poor lil Scott was prick his finger and squeeze the life out of it to get plenty of blood for that test tube thing. So he was pretty mad right from the start. Then the nurse led me back to the room and handed me the sheet of like 60 detailed questions about what he is doing and isn't doing. So, while trying to hold Scott, keep him off the floor, keep the passy off the floor, and keep Ryan germ free, I tried to fill out the 30 page questionnaire about Scott. (I wonder if they could send me this in the mail before hand?) During the entire physical examination Ryan wanted to talk to the doctor about his tools and how they compared to his doctor kit at home and Scott was so loud and excited I couldn't even hear what the Dr. was saying.

Then came the dreaded part. 4 shots in the legs. Ryan actually smiled and looked sort of happy about the whole thing. (something we discussed with him later on) Scott on the other hand was not a happy camper. Can you blame him? Bless his little heart. He had no idea what was coming.

As I watched and saw tears stream down his little cheeks I couldn't help smiling to myself though because of the opportunity that we have where we live to protect him from those preventable diseases. So thankful for that. Our Reach Out program at church collected quarters for the measles vaccination in Sudan this past Fall. These people do not have that luxury. So even though it hurt my heart for him, I was also smiling inside knowing that even though he doesn't understand, I am taking care of his future with those shots.

Right leg shots

Left leg shots

A little preoccupied with a spoon here. =)