Lets order up some praise today!

Many people in the blog world have been reading about Stellan and I have kept a "Pray for Stellan" button on my sidebar for the last month. Well today Stellan was discharged from the hospital in Boston!!! His mother "MckMama" and Stellan are resting comfortably in a hotel while they wait for a flight home. So many have prayed for Stellan as he went through this harrowing 5 week medical journey. Now we can join in praising God for the work has done on this sweet, 6 month old boy's heart for the second time in his short life.

New Hair

I cut my hair a little over a week ago but the only photos I had of the new do were on my phone. I just realized that I have a mini SD card in my new phone so here are the photos! I LOVE my new do, not my grays that I edited out,but I love my haircut. I am no longer shedding copious amounts of hair everywhere plus I just like the looks. I haven't successfully scheduled a color appointment yet but once I do, I'll be sure to post photos of that transformation.

The cuteness that is Ethan

In the last 2 days our sweet Ethan has gone from sitting with assistance to sitting all on his own! I think I sealed the deal by letting him fall:(...just a little tumble backwards without Mama catching him seemed to be all it took for him to decide balancing was much more attractive! Anyway, we are now in the process of adjusting life to a sitting/creeping/almost free-standing baby.

This evening we tried to strap Ethan into his bouncy seat, which he occasionally tolerates, while we ate dinner. This is what happened:

That's right, he decided he wanted to sit up like everyone else! Joel strapped him in while I brought the food over and I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him and thought he wasn't strapped in, for how else could my baby be folded in half leaning toward me with a big grin on his face?!

He's growing up, that's how.

And just because I love you, here is a darling picture of Ethan from this past week before we went on a walk.

We've had some lovely, warm, sunny days and we decided to take full advantage...Well ok, I decided. Ethan still isn't sure what to make of the sun. My poor Tennessee baby. We are doing our best to bring out the Texan in him!

Ethan loves his Papa

Joel has had long days these past few weeks while his company is completing EIB (Expert Infantyman's Badge) training and testing. So this has mean leaving at 5:30 and getting home between 7-8 at night. I know, all of my Army friends are thinking 5:30, that's when PT (physical training) starts?! Ah yes my friends, but that is when the training is starting, not at 9. Plus, we are spoiled living on post and Joel usually gets to come home, shower, eat breakfast, and he gets to see us for a bit, before heading back to work.

So that long tangential statement was all to say that Ethan is really missing out on some of his usual Joel time so he is getting really excited if Joel gets home before he goes to sleep. Today Ethan was so giddy that he accomplished a new "trick" in the pursuit of staring at Joel!
Ethan stood all on his own with no (human) support. And what's more, he did this for 5-10 minutes while Joel told us all about his day! With so much of his physical feats, knowing mothers keep telling us, that he will be an early crawler/walker but man...Be still my beating heart:). Oh, did I mention that Joel was crawling by 6 months and walking before 9...yeah...

The work of contentment

This week has been one of those weeks when you wish your life was something other than it is...well at least in some ways at least.

My lists of wishes this week:

I wish I lived in Houston "right down the street" from my parents, all my sisters, my brother (in my wish world he has moved back from California), my in-laws, even my sister's in-laws!

I wish we had a second car I wish we had a second car that was paid for in cash. Then, I could leave the house even if Ethan and I don't get up and leave the house with Joel at 5am.

I wish I had real friends at Fort Campbell I wish I could have friends as wonderful and affirming as those I made at Fort Benning.

I wish I knew if what I'm wanting to wish away is God's refinement process for the work that lays ahead...it usually is...so I should probably stop complaining.

...everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-
-this is the gift of God. 
Ecclesiastes 3:13 
I have a lot to be thankful for, a lot, but this week I wish for a few changes.

Now of course if you want to do your part in granting my wishes you could come visit us at Fort Campbell. Come on...you know you want to! I have an historical aircraft tour with your name on it, plus LOTS of Ethan kisses/chewing on you ready whenever you say the word.

Happy Easter

Ethan and Joel dressed up for church-so handsome!

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Today marked a new milestone for us, we were back at church!

It definitely took us longer than we wanted but with the cold/flu season, adjusting to getting to places with Ethan, and my serious anxiety about leaving Ethan or being in service with our chatty angel:). But, today was the day that the Lord hath made for Ethan to go to church!

I absolutely basked in the corporate worship experience, it was wonderful and sorely missed. Ethan did beautifully in the nursery. He took a nap and otherwise handled it well. I may or may not have fared as well...I did ok but I was definitely itching to get to the nursery and get some Ethan cuddles! We really had not come set on our Sunday school before so we are going to work that out over the next few weeks and try our hand at leaving Ethan for Church and Sunday School...we'll see.

Toothy grins

Alright prepare yourself for some major cuteness ala Ethan:).

See, I told you so! It looks a little harder to see in this size but Ethan is showing some beautiful teeth on his bottom gums.

4 Month Checkup

Ethan is getting SO big:). Today he had his 4 month check up and he is 16 lbs and 25 in. Everything went well and we are on track to start solid foods (if Mommy can handle it, that is) at 6 months. Until then, we are probably still in the midst of more teething. Yes, you read that right, he is showing signs of additional teething! So we could 4 front teeth in the next month or two?! He also seems to be in a growth spurt so we're now focused on getting through both of those and keeping the little guy well fed and rested (as mush as is possible).

On another note, I am told that what he is already doing is considered a stage of crawling. Additionally, the sitting he is doing unassisted, although nearly folded in half, is also a real stage of sitting up independently. Apparently I'm the kind of mother that needs to be assured by an authority, be it the doctor or more likely my mother, that whatever development milestone I think he's working on is actually in fact achieved. I don't know why, but there it is.

I am very thankful that Ethan is happy and thriving, what a blessing from the Lord!

Jehovah Jirah, my provider.

In these hard economic times for many individuals, Joel and I are so thankful for the provision and job security afforded to us through the Army. That being said, it is inevitable in the current economic climate to be more squarely faced with the responsibility to prepare our household for whatever situation may befall us. Being the household manager around here, and a bit of a money hoarder, I have had that on my brain these last few months. I worry about how much savings we have, how quickly we will be debt free, whether or not we should get a second car, whether or not we will buy a home when we stabilize at a post (if that's even possible) in the next 5-10 years. But I read something wise and comforting today on Kelly's Corner:

Today Jesus is my provider. I went to a little Christian school in 6th grade and in chapel we would sing a song about "Jehovah Jirah - my provider" and I have never gotten that song out of my head. Probably because God always wanted me to remember that he is my provider. He has ALWAYS provided my needs. I will never be rich and I'm more than fine with that - but God has taken care of me. The verse I love and that has been so true for my family is
Malachi 3:10.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."

What peace there is in knowing that God will pour out blessing overflowing if I will only trust my family, my finances, my everything in Him. He will meet and exceed our needs if we will only trust. It is foundational and yet a continual process to live that out. So, today, as I head out to the grocery store with my coupons:), I will rest in His provision through every item that feeds our family and every dollar that buys it. I will praise Him for the child we have been given and the means to provide for Him, I will praise Him that we are in a safe, clean and warm house (it's in the 40's today?!). And I will praise Him that Joel has a job that he loves and that it is just enough for our family to live, give back and save for what may come.

Jehovah Jirah, my provider.

Ethan and the parentals:)

Ethan is SO much fun these days, well, he's always been fun but he is learning and trying so much. As of this weekend Ethan is rolling over whenever he gets the chance, in his crib, on a quilt, anywhere and everywhere. He is also expressing his displeasure more readily when he cannot move where he wants or how he wants through screeching...and fits. He certainly comes by expressiveness and stubbornness honestly from Joel and myself:).

Another fun new "trick" of Ethan's is that he is really gaining hand dexterity. He can pretty much grip things that he wants when he wants and he is bringing his hands together beautifully. One of the by-products of his great hand dexterity is that he grips my hair to steady, my clothes, my lip, my nose, etc...

And in this sweet shot, Joel's ears were Ethan's hand holds!

Then, since it was Ethan's day o' shots with parents I decided it was high time I got a good picture with my little man! I am usually behind the camera capturing his every move but Joel obliged this time around.

Well there you have it, a good dose of sweet Ethan to finish off your day!

And we're reading! Well...being read to at least:).

Ethan has not held much interest in books previously so I haven't pushed it. Don't get me wrong, he loves to talk and be talked to but I think it was the fact that it was happening at night, NOT his favorite time of the day. So he has seemed ready and listened to Joel read some of his book the other day so we bought some of his own books today! He happily sat through Where the Wild Things Are , a small picture book, and a chapter from The Jesus Storybook Bible.
Where the Wild Things Are is a childhood favorite and this was Ethan's first time to hear it! Granted, I don't think he has truly experienced the book until he's heard a reading from his Mimi...she pretty much does some of the best book voices ever...The Very Busy Spider well, you just haven't truly experienced it unless you've been read it by The Very Busy Spider ala Marilyn, er, Mimi!
It was also the first chapter of The Jesus Storybook Bible that Ethan listened to and what an important one it was, about the Fall of Man! If you haven't seen the storybook bible I strongly recommend it! It was a lovely gift from The Pitts and we have thoroughly enjoyed its content as well as it's beautiful illustrations:).

Ethan cut his 2nd tooth!

As I mentioned with the last tooth, it is rather difficult to get a picture of Ethan's mouth open and him not moving around. Furthermore, it's pretty hard to see his teeth anyway on film! But, nonetheless, Here are Ethan's first 2 teeth:)! Unfortunately, the second tooth breaking through does not seem to have brought all of the blissful sleep the first tooth brought but its early yet, we shall see if he sleeps tonight!

Ethan's 4 Months Old!

It's hard to believe that our sweet boy is already 4 months old?! We have his 4 month doctor's appointment next week so I'll have his latest stats to share then. As far as his development is concerned he is quite the active boy:). He rolled over for the first time just before 3 months but he didn't do it willingly and refused to replicate:). This month he has willingly rolled over several times but he still is finicky about the act. He only rolls over in his crib...no one knows. However, he now loves to view the world from his tummy and his above position is his new favorite, doesn't he look cute?! I'm hoping to work in Paint.net on this picture to play with it, hopefully it will be successful and hopefully I'll post it soon. He also has great hand control now and brings his hands together and enjoys playing with some toys. Most of his interest in toys lies in whether or not he can chew on it...he LOVES the rattle but whines since he can't really chew on it sufficiently. He also has discovered how fun it is to steady himself by grabbing onto: Mommy's hair, Papa's ears, etc...He is sitting up nicely on his own but mostly with a little assistance. He is getting leaner, looking more muscular, and his umbilical hernia is healing up-yay! He fits just right in 3-6 month clothing and his 0-6 month socks are too small...so our little guy is still growing like a weed! He has been talking in goo's, baa's & "Hi," since 6 weeks but now he has add to his repertoire prolonged vowel sounds. These conversations last about 5 minutes at a time usually. I know, a shock that MY child is a talker;). Ok, I'm sure there is more but I'll stop. For now. Enjoy your weekend!

"Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

As you may have noticed, I have been tinkering with my blog layout over the last 2 weeks or so. I recently downloaded Paint.net a freeware program with much of the functionality of Photoshop without the hefty pricetag! Paint.net has afforded me the opportunity to create some design elements and backgrounds for the site. So, I am not thrilled with my blog layout quite yet but I've had a delightful time learning about digital scrapbooking free downloads (Sarah Pitts, I'm thinking of you ma'am:)) and editing HTML. I have left the blog as is for about a week. I mentioned to my sweet sister Katherine that I think I want to re-do the blog header and what was her response? "Yeah, well it's a looks a little bit like Buddy the Elf designed it."

Wow. So, I'm sorry blogging friends if I have recently assailed your eyes with my design choices;). I promise I'm getting better...and maybe a tad less colorful...well at least not so colorful all at once.

Also, cute Ethan pictures are on the way. Oh, and he's cutting another tooth. Yep. Right next to the first one. We're guessing, based on the first tooth, he'll cut it by the end of the week, Lord willing! After 4-5 days of blissful sleep Ethan adopted a newborn sleep cycle at the end of last week as this tooth began to surface in earnest. Boy did his Mimi call that one! So, I'm looking forward to the second tooth and some more sleep!