11 Months

 

Phew! Taking these photos is no longer a one man job. But I have to do it during the day when there is natural light. They were a little better than I expected thanks to some cropping. It didn't help that Mason was throwing himself into every other picture.

I happened upon Mason's weight at 9 months and Ryan still has not reached that at 11 months. I am secretly grateful he is smaller. It makes him feel more like a baby than close to ONE. Can you tell I will be SO sad for his birthday?

He isn't waving yet. He doesn't have a single word. He has recently started screaming for attention, instead of the cute baby cry. It's kind of an ugly sound. Of course Mason and Owen think it's funny to repeat which only encourages him.

 

He pulls up, but doesn't really cruise. He is very comfortable with his mobility on all fours. He looks almost as if he is doing stunts. Spinning and turning, pushing his little bottom up in the air, etc. He can stand for s few seconds if I let go of his hands. He really makes no effort to take steps even with prodding.

 

I have begun thinking about his birthday celebration, but don't really have any great ideas. It's kind of hard since it's on the tail end of 4 other celebrations.

 

This picture cracks me up. He fell backwards, his yoga has paid off b/c his core held him up, but he just froze not knowing how to get himself out of the predicament.

Several friends have asked if it's harder or easier with 3 kids now that Ryan is older. He certainly requires less "care", but his mobility makes it harder on me. I am finding less and less time to do anything. He is all over the place. He doesn't really sit and play he just moves from one thing to another and usually with things that aren't the best objects for a baby. I do more in the evenings than I used to and a lot just doesn't get done and I am okay with that (most days). I want to be available to my boys and that usually eans sacrificing my own agenda. I consider it a sucess if dinner is on the table when EJ gets home and the house doesn't look like it's exploded. Although my blog is named Tripping over Toys for a reason :)

Not Flyin

We drove about 35 minutes to a park for the annual Kite Day. It was insanely crowded. I don't know what happened between last year and this year, but the whole county was there. After waiting in lots of traffic (should have been our 1st hint) our van was directed to the very back of the (huge) park. There was no way we were dragging our picnic stuff and 3 boys there and back and get back home for naps. So we settled for a picnic at the playground (we weren't the only ones). We tried to fly the kite we brought but discovered we were missing an important part. It was a good lesson in dealing with our disappointments and trying to look on the bright side.

Dr. Seuss on the Brain

Let the Birthday's begin.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! 

Yesterday, the boys gathered up all his books and started reading.
(I forgot to make green eggs and ham)

 Ryan wanted a piece of the action

Our March Madness

I know it's only March 3rd, 

to worry would be absurd.

But it's our busiest month of the year.

The days are drawing near,

Birthdays on March 19, 22 and 24.

April 7 and 8 to add a few more.

2 special ones we don't want to miss.

Ryan turns 1 and it's the BIG 30 for my sis!

Good thing I LOVE to plan! The trick is not to stress.

At least this year, I am off the couch and not on house arrest.

Poems are hard to write -finding that perfect word.

No wonder Dr. Seuss used words I never heard.

(I better keep my day job)

As for Me

Since September, I have had the privilege and blessing of studying the Psalms with some very seasoned and amazing Christian women each week at Wellspring, a woman's Bible Study. Most weeks they knock my socks off. Well, really it's the Lord's Spirit pouring out of them and His Word.

We were recently challenged by Psalm 16 and 73 to look more deeply at what it means that God is our portion. "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; Surely I have a delightful inheritance." -Psalm 16:6

And so, as always, if I ask, He will answer.
From a wonderful devotional I've been reading, Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, came the following words that summed up perfectly what He has been teaching me. "If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today."
This really could apply to anything in life. Any worries or fears I have for the future. But for me, right now it's about my chronic pain. I must choose not to worry about tomorrow's pains. I must think only of today. Because if I don't the load only feels heavier, the pain greater than it really is. "Discipline" may sound harsh. But if you have a wandering mind like mine, you know how hard it is to tame. He is blessing my efforts. He has been faithful to remind me over and over that my portion is good, my inheritance is good. Instead of dwelling on my fears and pain I am choosing to look at His promises. His Word really is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Ps119.105).
And I am seeing just how sweet it is to be near to Him. "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:28

"Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers. I tell no one any story but his own." Aslan, in The Horse and his Boy, by C.S.Lewis.

Blessed