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I really can still hardly believe that. It's so crazy that I've been a mom for three years. He can't really be that big. I've had the chance to hold a little bitty newborn baby twice in the last week -- and that seems like it was forever ago. But at the same time, it seems like he's gotten so big, so fast.
Today at the park he went down a slide so tall that it made me nervous. He was totally unafraid -- didn't even hesitate. He wants so badly to do everything himself and absolutely hates asking Mommy for help. The potty training is going great. He can almost totally get himself dressed. He can turn on the TV, the PlayStation, the CD player, Mommy's camera... He even takes his medicine by himself every night.
But I'm glad that he's not totally independent yet. He still wants Mommy to read stories and sing songs at bedtime. I'm definitely his favorite playtime buddy with trains and Legos and games. I love how he imitates me and still wants to grow up to be a "mommy", no matter how many times I tell him that won't quite work. I'm definitely lucky to have a sweet boy. Jack, don't grow up too fast!
Josh and I have finally made arrangements to get back in the date night habit. We were VERY good about this prior to children. I still remember our first summer in Houston. Every Thursday night we would go out, purposefully, to a new restaurant, museum, show, whatever... with our focus completely on enjoying each other's company. Since Jack was born -- not so much. It's not that we haven't wanted to; it just never really happened. At various times, we had various excuses: no time, no money, no babysitter. And both of us could tell the difference. We've both taken the other for granted. We've become less appreciative. We've gotten involved in separate interests. Our lives have become more about our other relationships and obligations, and less about each other. And we both hate this. So we're taking a step of faith, trusting that a couple of hours each Monday night can make a difference. But I think that the real difference will come when we begin to choose sacrifice over selfishness, gratitude over griping, helping over hurtfulness. Patience. Trust. Love.
Just loved this picture of Elijah and had to share it! He's growing up too fast already.
So I'm finally caught up! I knew, in some fashion, that our church was encouraging everyone to read through the Bible together this year. And, because I succumb fairly easily to positive peer pressure, I was planning to participate. But I didn't actually get my hands on the reading plan until we were already 5 days in! So I've been playing catch-up for awhile now, squeezing it in whenever I could -- leaving Bibles in various rooms throughout the house so that I wouldn't miss an opportune moment. But tomorrow I'll just have the normal reading to take care of, which should mean a change in my methodology.
I definitely need to find a way to be more consistent with my Bible-reading time. Not that there's anything innately wrong with reading the Bible in spurts throughout the day (better than not at all!), but I think it's much less valuable than time set aside to sit at Jesus' feet and allow the Word to speak to me. Of course that's much harder for me to find. As a mommy of two little boys, it's a challenge to do anything that requires time alone and quiet. I can definitely relate to Susannah Wesley (no relation to our lovely pastor's wife... I think) pulling her apron over her head to read her Bible at the kitchen table -- I'm sure my boys would take that as a great opportunity to get into something off limits. Jack would have a pair of scissors in one hand and be pressing the toaster buttons; Elijah would be enjoying a nice splash and snack at the dog bowls. I'm really starting to think that getting up early (aargh.) is the only reasonable answer, but I haven't been willing to turn over that leaf yet. I suppose it simply comes down to what I treasure most: sleep, comfort, amusement... or intimacy with my Maker.
Over the Christmas holidays, Josh and I found a new couch to replace the one that was damaged by Ike. Yep, the couch that, for over two years, I saved birthday/anniversary/Christmas cash in order to purchase. The couch that cost more than we had ever paid for a piece of furniture. The couch that took me forever to find the perfect fabric that would go with everything else in the room. The couch that lasted less than six months. But I was actually kind of bothered by how much we ended up spending on that original couch. I guess I was just raised to get good deals on just about everything, and it didn't feel like that good of a deal. So I didn't really want to make the same mistake a second time.
Meet the new couch (you can observe the new floors as well!).
And here are our sweet boys enjoying our $300 bargain.
Tonight it was online defensive driving. Because I speed. Occasionally.
But I just started reading a book that is trying to convince me to start waking up before my kids wake up. Which I never do, because that's just really freaky early. But they make a good argument. It's one of those things where I definitely like the idea but loathe the implementation. I can't remember the last time that I set an alarm clock, but it may have been before Jack was born. For me, the degree of getting-up-early lameness is directly related to how late I stay up the night before - which is nearly always way too late. So I'm praying about changing habits. Trying to discern what would be the most effective use of my time. I tend to say that I'm willing to make needed changes, but first _____ (fill in the blank with whatever the current situation is). Right now it's resettling life post-Christmas, adjusting Elijah's sleep routine, potty-training Jack, finishing defensive driving... The problem is that there's always something that holds me back from making any drastic adjustments. So challenge me, folks - I'll probably need a lot of encouragement to jump off the 5 a.m. ledge.
So with all the craziness of getting back home after Christmas break, I haven't really been able to sit down and go over my goals/resolutions for this upcoming year. And after lecturing Josh on how goals are only effective when we make them specific and measureable, I'll probably have to spend some serious planning just to make that clear. I guess that I have some ideas on ways that I would like to be different, but I'm still working on the means necessary. And then of course, I have to actually put in the effort to implement the plans. Maybe I'll just post as I come up with ideas... the goals themselves will have to be a work in progress.
1. Read through the Bible with CCCC. I'm already six days behind, but I think that I can catch up. My tentative plan is to read the Old Testament from The Message and the New Testament from my new ESV Study Bible. But, in the words of Greg Poore, I reserve the right to get smarter... we'll see how it goes.
2. Write/post something on here everyday before I read everyone else's blogs. It's too easy to be the lazy, invisible blog reader. I need to be as quick to share as I am to read.
3. Get more sleep. Be more pleasant. Yell less. Smile more. Be more fit. Be less anxious.
Okay, those last ones may need a little more thought and clarity. Maybe I can work on making it a little more measureable when my house is back to normal and Elijah starts napping again.
