Ode to the Beard

Where it all began:

gosh he looks really young ...

Where it is now ...

CR has always (well, for the last 5 years) grown a beard every duck season.  Each year the time span gets longer.  He first started growing it first of October and then shaving it off mid January.  This year he started first of September.  One year he ended up going hunting at the end of January after he had shaved it off and his face got cold, so this year he decided to keep in longer.  And longer.  And ... you get the drift.  It has become part of our family.  Soon I think it will need it's own pillow to lie on.  He has kept it because it has been a fun adventure.  It is a great conversation piece and I think it drives his mother bonkers.  People ask me why I let him keep it.  Let him keep it?  I don't understand the question.

"Shave off your beard and hand me your man card."  Jase Roberston

"You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard."  Leviticus 19:7

Kirbyisms

Kirby is really quite the hoot.  I know they say "kids say the darnedest things", and I have to agree 100%.  Some of the things she says and does I just think to myself, "now how did she get that idea."  It also makes me that much more cautious about what is let into our home or into her path.  "Oh be careful little eyes ..."

Lately her sentences have become even more complete.  Instead of the simple subject and verb sentences, we are getting some adjectives thrown into the mix, which as a former English teacher and lover of all things writing, tickles me to death.  A new saying that she is saying whenever things have settled down a bit too much for her is, "I don't feel so good."  She doesn't just say it though.  She gets this pitiful, "woe is me" look on her face and she says it with a little bit of cry in her voice.  She never feels bad when she says it, so it makes me wonder how well she will be able to "pull one over on me" when she gets older and figures out being sick means staying home from school!  What is funny is she will walk up to whoever is around to listen and tell them this.  The other day we had some friends over checking out the house and she just walked up to Brandon (just met him 5 minutes before), put her arm around his leg and said, "(sniff sniff) I don't feel so good."  He is great and has 4 kids of his own so he responded with out missing a beat, "Well then I guess you will just have to sit there and get to feeling better while the boys and Hailey go on the trampoline."  Um, she felt better in a jiffy!

Speaking of Hailey, this is a wonderful blessing in our life!!  She is keeping Kirby two days a week the first 2 weeks of each month in the summer.  As you read yesterday, those are my "slam and jam" weeks.  With Mother's Day Out being on break for the summer, I really needed an option for Kirby and I refused to let that option be the TV (even though that would not have really worked anyway).  When I am home and she is home, there is NO work getting done.  She knows how much fun we have together so will not allow me to work.  Can't blame her.  So thankfully, Hailey agreed to keep her at their house for me and I am able to work, have some one on one time with Patton, as well as be home manager on those days.  It has worked out quite nicely.  I work like a mad woman, because it seems like enough time, but those days fly by faster than a bird diving for the first worm of the morning.

The most important milestone that I feel like sharing today is that Kirby is understanding the concept of prayer much better and quicker than I thought.  We have prayed with Kirby before every meal and at bedtime since she was born.  She sees and hears me pray off and on throughout the day as well.  She started saying her own dinner prayer around 2, but it has always been routine and short (all part of the process) so I did not think she really understood about being able to pray whenever.  And for anything. I have been trying over the last few months to reiterate the fact that we can talk to God about all things. Even going potty.  One day she was having a hard time and I prayed about going potty, she went, and said, "Thank you Lord!" quite ecstatically.  Then the other week it really made CR and I realize she was getting it.  She broke a sheep at my mom's house.  According to her it had a broken leg.  CR acted fast and put it away before she could ruin it anymore.  When she asked him where it was he said, "the hospital."  She then crawled up in his lap and said, "daddy, we need to pray for my sheep and his leg." Last week when I had a headache, she asked to stop and pray for me to feel better.  Thankful she is starting to get the appropriateness and the reverence of prayer.

Zoo trip at the end of May:

 I recently subscribed to this neat company called Kiwi Crate.  Since we live 30 minutes from the nearest craft store, and I never seem to think about getting stuff like this while I am close to there, I thought it was a good investment.  For 19.99 they send us a box of 2-3 activities to do along with a little lesson about the craft.  TOTALLY WORTH IT!  It probably has that much in supplies.  And they ship it to me here in Far, Far, Away land.  And Kirby loves to get her package.  I try to split up the activities over a few days so as not to spoil all the fun in one!  This kit was about birds.  We made 3 different bird masks ...

 and wings ....

 We also made some big, blue, bird eggs and a nest.  I had a blast!

 Kirby loves to go out in our backyard and talk to the cows while they eat supper ...

And you should hear her call her cows ... "heerrr cowwwwss ... cotton seed"

This is what Patton thinks about feeding cows right now.  Not too impressed just yet!

 CR taught Kirby how to say a famous East Texas/Louisiana saying.  In case you can't understand her, it is "Hey y'all, how your momma and them?"  See her eggs in their nest?

 While in Montgomery at the end of May, we finally got to connect with our best friends!

 Kirby loves to visit Grammy and Paw ... we can't wait to be back there in a week!

For those of you keeping up with CR's beard, it is a subject in and of itself that will one day get its very own journal entry.  But for now, here is a short snippet.  It is getting pretty long.  I'd say it is now about 3 reed lengths.  It is for sure 2 full.  He has often had things, usually food or milk, nestled into this mane.  The other day topped them all, though.  I looked over and just laughed.  I could not contain my laughter.  Yes, I almost "Pirate in the Penzance" (those of you old enough for Pretty Woman get that ) .... wait for it ... he had ... oh gosh here I go again ... a full cobweb dangling from the bottom.  There was even a few little leafs within the cobweb.  No spider, that I saw ...

And here is yours truly, after a 9 hour trip to Corpus by myself with my 5 month old and 2 1/2 year old ...

We survived, by the grace of the Almighty!

The me post will have to wait until later ... husband calls ...

"....The heart of her husband has confidence in her."  Proverbs 31:11

ANOTHER MONTH ...

So I see it has been a month since I last posted.  Where in the world is time going?  Besides gone.  Wherever it is hiding, it needs to make itself seen.  It has been a wonderful whirlwind around here.  And I do not see it slowing down anytime soon.  I guess it is a good thing.  I see it as a blessing, yet I want to be able to "stop and smell the roses" a little bit more.  We are busy with life.  Not just work, but enjoying the blessings that the Lord has gifted us.  Thank you, Lord, for choosing me for this life.

I do love my schedule, though, that I have set up with work.  It has been so nice to have almost 3 weeks of each month of slower paced life.  I shoot the first week, and then edit like mad the next week. Sometimes I am able to start editing the same week as the shoot week.  Once editing is done, the order sessions, ordering, and delivery are a breeze.  We have had a lot more time to make "moments for the cookie jar".  The last 2 weeks of the month is when I try to plan something fun for us to do out and about.  The zoo in San Antonio, trips to Montgomery, the Aquarium, etc.  It makes all the push and stress the first two weeks very worth it.

Last weekend I hit an emotional wall.  I was beat down.  I was frustrated.  I was angry with the way things were going in our home.  It just felt like things were off for the past few months.  I kept swallowing the feeling though, thinking it was just all this newborn stuff and having to adjust.  Still.  That was just an excuse for not finding the root of the reason.  I had prayed about it off and on, with still no clear answer as to what was going on.  I could tell things were wearing on CR as well.  I finally said something and it was so nice and refreshing for the both of us to get things off our hearts.  What I think it comes down to is that we have been living so much for our children right now that we lost time for ourselves.  Time for us to communicate mainly.  To really engage in conversation with each other.  For the Biblical truths to live out in our daily lives and not just on Sunday mornings.  That had been pushed back and further back.  Once things were brought to the fore front and the communication started flowing, it did not stop.  We were honest with each other about frustrations and although it was hard for my pride to hear, it was what I needed to hear.  It was what I needed to share, too, as hard as that was for me.  I do not share this with you for you to be concerned about us in the least bit ... I share this with you as a testimony to communicate with your spouse.  To love your spouse before your children.  To make them your priority and to remember the special little things (his favorite breakfast of pancakes) that make him remember his appreciation.  Say it and make sure he understands it.  Make sure he really hears the appreciation.  Make him feel the appreciation.  Don't make it routine.

I decided to sit down and work on my quiet time, too.  I have it every morning, but it has been rushed and not meaningful at all.  Here is now what it entails:

My Bible time is alone with God, but sometimes I will have to do it like this to get through what I need to study:

For those of you who are also really frustrated with America's current education state, you should read this.  I am only in chapter one and already I am in love with everything I have read.  I absolutely hate the #s of the statistics, but I keep saying, "I told you so" in my head.  This is the root of the reason I quit teaching.  I highly recommend:

Patton is now 5 months old. (Even he is shocked)

 I am not sure when that happened.   He is growing so fast.  I think he is huge and hitting milestones much faster than Kirby did.  I had always heard that boys developed at a slower pace than girls as far as motor skills went.  Not so much with this kid ... or his cousin Benjamin who is 10 days younger than him.  Here are the two having some bonding time:

 Talk about development.  I feel like Ben is leaps above Patton.  He rolled over on his belly from his back about 10 times in 2 minutes.  Patton is just so laid back.  He rolls and then just stays in place.  Maybe that is contentment ...

It was a very nice surprise to have Megan, Eva and Benjamin stop by the farm on Monday.  They were in town for a little while and had some time to kill.  Glad to have a quick visit.

 Some things that come to mind about Patton right now:

• he is constantly chewing on his hands.  No teeth yet.  He has the little blisters on his gums, which may be what has caused all the drooling and gnawing the last 2 months.
• wears 3-6 months in some clothes, but mainly 6 months.
• rolls from back to belly
• rolls from belly to back
• laughs (and I mean belly laughs) often.  Especially at mommy.  I think I rock his world.
• does NOT sleep as well as Kirby.  We are working on it though.  We have had some eating issues that I think are finally getting settled, so hopefully we will see a turn for the better.
• he found his toes this past month and loves to hold them as he rolls.  
• tries to feed himself with a spoon.  The other day it was totally coincidence I know, but he picked up his spoon out of his bowl and almost made it in his mouth.  
• eats bananas, avocados, mangoes, and oatmeal.  Monday starts sweet potatoes!  Just like with Kirby, I make it myself.  Straight up food.  

 Another part of our blessing is getting to live close enough to see these three at least once a week (at church) but usually at least one more time, too.  They came out to the farm a couple weeks ago and all decided to get on the top bunk bed.  They said, "Lala, we could all spend the night here and all stay in this same room.  Me (Caleb) and Porter on the top bunk - but you need to put on the other rail - Kirby and Anna Kate on the bottom, and Patton in his crib."  Genius.  I would love it, but wonder just how much slumber would actually go on that night.

Ok, I promise to post again tomorrow or Monday ... I have more to share about precious Kirby and another personal battle that I know I am not alone with.  Until then .... cherrio!

"A wife of noble character, who can find?  For her price is far above rubies ..."  Proverbs 31:10a