Random Ramblings

So, maybe my guessing chart was a little deceiving, but I really had no idea how much he would weigh... He was 16lb 7.5oz, so he's slowing down a little bit in the weight department. He was 27" long. He is starting to look really long and skinny. Everything looked good at his appointment. He had to have shots though :P

The whole shot thing is so hard. There is so much controversy out there and really strong opinions on both sides. I'm kind of middle of the road on the whole issue. I don't think all are necessary, but I still do get most of them done. I worry about the whole SIDS and autism thing that people talk about... When it really comes down to it, I realize that I just need to do the best research I can and decide before the Lord what to do then trust him with our little guy.

Anyway, things are going pretty well here. I have so many blog posts I've been wanting to do, but then get busy - you know how it goes! My joints have flared up again, so I really want to get strict on my diet to see if it really helps or not. I'll have to share some of the new recipes we are trying (carrot soup - yeah sounds gross, but it is super good!; crispy mexican wrap casserole; oriental lemon-honey pasta, and of course the different green smoothies, etc...).

I have been started to sell more things on eBay and have really started to make a little money at it. It's fun to find a "treasure" at a thrift store and see how much you'll get out of it. I recently bought a dinosaur costume for $2.90 and sold it for $20.00. Not too shabby. With the money I make, I would like to buy a good quality blender. I think either a Vitamix or a Blendtec. If you have either one, give me your two cents please!

Well, I better get something done while Landon is asleep...

4 1/2 months

Landon has his 4 month well child check tomorrow. I'm always curious to see how much he weighs, so I thought I do another poll for you all to guess. He was 15lb 10oz last month to give you a starting point.

Tulsa State Fair

Landon had his first fair experience (technically second... I was seven weeks pregnant last time we went). He did very well. He was really in awe of the bright lights, the music, and all the animal sounds. Here are some pictures...

My Boys

I just realized that after this post today, this will be the most I've posted in one month! This will make the 14th post for September. Can't believe I haven't posted more than 14 times in a month. Hopefully I will keep this up and not fall back in the slump of posting a couple times a month.

Here is a picture of the wonderful boys in my life :)

Mouse?!

I think I just heard a mouse! Oh, I really hate mice, I hope I'm wrong... but this beautiful fall weather sometimes brings these little creatures into our nice warm house. 

Last winter we had a problem with mice for a little while. I think we caught a total of seven! Three or so when Shawna and Rex were staying at our house... Yeah, it was not fun. We would catch them with glue traps and I always dreaded checking them for fear of seeing one. Finally we found a definite spot that they were coming in and sealed that off. We also put poison in our crawl-space and that was the last of the little rodents. I just don't want to deal with them again! 

You'd think since I grew up on a farm I wouldn't be afraid of a little old mouse. Well, I partly blame this fear on my mom. I think as a kid, seeing her jump from the ground to the table made me think they could eat us alive or something. Or maybe it was when one crawled up my cousin, John's, leg and he caught it there and held it screaming and crying until his dad helped him get it out. I don't know for sure, I just know that they make me scream and jump to the nearest thing off the ground.

Anyway, I think I'll just avoid the living room for a little while...

Teaching the ways of the Lord

These verses challenged me today. Already, I can see Landon watching our every move. He will soon understand what is important to us and what we think is important for him to know. I pray that Seth and I will do what these verses say, that we will continually be talking to our children about who the Lord is and what He has done for us.

Deut. 6:6-9

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.


How do we make this practical in our homes?

1. Read the Bible to our children - I try to do this even though I know Landon doesn't understand yet. I want to make it a habit.

2. When our children ask questions, take them to the scriptures. I want to help my children understand that the Word of God is where the answers are so that they will learn to look there instead of relying on me for finding what is true.

3. Memorizing passages of scripture together. This is something I definitely need to work on more myself. I want the word of God to penetrate our home and ultimately the hearts of myself and my family.

I know that I am very inexperienced in the raising of children at this point :) but these verses really encouraged me to start thinking about what the Lord desires me to teach the children that He gives me.

Fun with Photo Booth

Here are some pics we took the other day using Photo Booth



He's always trying to eat his toes. Yummy...



And here are the freaky ones...

4 Months

Landon is four month old today. He decided to show you how he can roll over in this movie...

Home-Made Applesauce

While I was in Iowa, I had the opportunity to make and can home-made applesauce. My aunt had a few trees and an abundance of organic apples! Since Landon will soon be eating solids I was excited for the chance to learn and to be able take some home. I thought I'd show you how we made it.

Pick the apples


Slice the apples (we had a special machine that strained the peel and seeds, so we didn't need to core them)


Boil the apples


Sterilize the canning jars by boiling them


Here is our special machine. It was so easy, we just put the hot apples in, cranked and out came the fresh applesauce!


Put the applesauce in jars and screw the caps on


This is called a "water bath." You just have to make sure that all the tops are covered and let boil for about half an hour.





And voila! Lots of home-made applesauce for my little man. I think I brought home 19 jars!

Fun with Cousins

Yesterday we got to spend a little time with April, Layla, and Finn.

Here is the best shot of the three cousins we could get...


I like this one of Landon and Finn. They are going to be such good buddies


Here is Landon about to eat the couch

Aiden Brian

We got to meet our sweet nephew this past weekend. Landon seemed like a giant compared to the little guy. Brady and Mandy are doing very well and are enjoying their new edition.

Caught this sweet smile while he was sleeping...

The two daddies and bubbies...

Back for a bit

Landon and I drove from Iowa to Tulsa today. My mom helped me drive the first half of the trip and we were able to take a little nap in Kansas City at the hotel my dad was staying at. Landon slept the rest of the four hour drive so that was wonderful! We had a very nice trip. We plan to turn around and get going again. This time to Hutchinson, KS to see that new precious nephew of ours.

Here is Landon learning to how to stand:

Faith & Love

Genesis 22

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

The faith of Abraham is amazing. The Lord told him that he was going to create a nation from his bloodline, Abraham had only one son and was asked to sacrifice him. Isn't it amazing that Abraham never questioned God when He told him to sacrifice his one and only son? I can't imagine what was going through Abraham's mind... No one had ever been resurrected at this point in history, yet did he think the Lord was going to raise him from the dead if he did in fact sacrifice his son? Wow, to trust the Lord in this way... May the Lord increase my faith!

Reading this story also makes me think of the Lord's love for us. That the Father did not stop His own hand from sacrificing His only Son for the sake of us sinners. What love is this? To give up His one and only and perfect son for the sake of another... May we praise Him today for His great love!

More Giggles

Landon just loves his aunt Bekah. She can make him laugh more than almost anyone! Here he is giggling...

He's Here!

Aiden Brian is here! He weighed in at 7 lbs and was 19 inches long. I'm still in Iowa, but plan on going to Hutchinson to see the baby on Friday. I will post pictures sometime this weekend. Praise the Lord for a safe delivery!

A NEW COUSIN!

My sister-in-law, Mandy, is currently in labor. She is at 8 cm and going all natural. Pray for her and the baby! I'll update as I hear more...

Last Labor Day...

I was just reflecting back to last year at this time. I found out on Labor Day that I was pregnant - the best news ever! It is neat to look back and see how much has changed in a year. We are so thankful the Lord carried me and our precious boy safely through my pregnancy and allowed us to be parents to such an amazing blessing!

Here is the link to what I wrote when I found out that I was pregnant...

Finding Out