Happy 2nd Birthday, Samuel!

Happy Birthday, my little Sammy Whammy, honey bunny!



My sweet, sweet boy, today is your second birthday. I can't believe two whole years ago I was cuddling and nursing and waking up in the night with you. And now, you're a big brother! I was curious to see how you'd transition to this whole big brother thing. Not because I didn't think you'd love your brother, but because you've always been a mama's boy. You love to snuggle with me and sit in my lap and, sometimes, when you're doing that and Judah wants to be held, too, you'll push him away and say, "No Judah! Not your mama, just my mama!" Needless to say, having a baby you wouldn't have much choice in the matter. But, there was no need for concern, because you've done so good! It hasn't really been much of a transition for you. You love to touch Silas' head and kiss him and hold him. You're such a good big brother!



It has been so fun seeing your little personality come out more and more each day. For a just-turned-two-today you are so articulate and such a great talker! You're ALWAYS talking and singing; you have such a sweet little voice. My favorite thing to hear is, "I love you, Mama."

You are such a sweet boy- so compassionate and sensitive. Whenever you see me cry you start to cry and say, "Don't cry." And when I'm done you say, "Are you all better now?" You say the same thing about yourself. If you get hurt or disciplined and have been crying, when you're done you say, "I'm better now!"

Samuel, in the Bible, was a prophet. And you, my boy, are a prophet. I'm sure that's why you talk so much and started talking at such a young age. God is going to use your voice to prophesy and preach the gospel to lost and dying people. He's going to use you to breathe life and speak encouragement over hurting people who need Jesus. Your middle name is Christian. It seems so solid, simple, and straight forward. You will always be solid in your relationship with God- never going to the right or to the left, but walking in your destiny and calling as a soulwinner and father of multitudes.

I love you so, so much, Samuel! You bring such joy to my heart. When I look at you I am so proud of you; that you are my son. You are such a perfect big AND little brother, and son to Papa and I. We are completely blessed to have you in our lives!

Silas Joel pictures

Baby Tiny is here!!!

Silas Joel
Born April 25, 2008 at 9:10pm
8lbs, 40z and 19.5 inches

We're home now and were thankful to get to leave less than 24 hours after Silas was born. We were anxious to be home with all 3 of our precious boys. Pictures to come!

Update

Well, I had my midwife appointment this morning and I am 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. His head is lower, she said she couldn't even feel it. I am measuring 38 weeks, but she's guessing he's between 7.5 and 8 lbs. When we got there Cheryl said she wasn't sure if they could induce me tomorrow because the maternity ward is so full. She said that Sunday or Monday are a possibility because she'd be out of town Saturday.
At the end of my appointment she called the hospital and they said they'd be having 4 people leave tomorrow. So, the induction is a go! I have to call in the morning to find out exactly what time I am supposed to go in. I have mixed emotions about it, mainly because I'm really emotional right now. I'm, also, really excited to meet Baby Tiny!
Jenna mentioned in my comments about twittering the baby info. I will try, but I'm pretty sure there's no cell phone signal in the hospital. I might have someone (Laura!) blog the info for me or you might all just have to wait until Saturday. She said I'd be able to leave within 24 hours as long as everything looks good. I know I'll be anxious to be home with all 3 of my boys!

So close!

Yay! I'm so happy! Jordan figured out how to redirect my blog. So, now it's pretty with our without the www. Thank you!!!

2 days!! Is that craziness or what? My mind cannot comprehend the fact that I'll have 3 boys by the weekend. All I have left it to pack the boys' bags and go to the grocery store. I totally forgot about bringing snacks. Tonight we're going to get Eric's invoicing done, so we won't have to worry about that again until next wmonth. Baby Tiny is almost here!!! Ahhh!!!

Tomorrow I have my last pre-baby midwife appointment and I'm anxious to see how much progess I've made. I've been walking a lot everyday and taking the primrose oil. It must be doing something!

Pretty Blog

Do you love my new layout? Thank you, Shauna!! If you can't see it you're probably visiting http://mamalovespapa, as opposed to http://WWW.mamalovespapa.com. I'm told by Jordan, my computer smartest friend since high school, that it will redirect soon. Thanks so much both of you for making my blog look so pretty!!! Also, I just realized Shauna made me a matching signature. How cute is that?

Monkeemoos and Baby Tiny (again!)

Monkeemoos is on Cool Mom Picks. Monkeemoos started as a boys only online boutique. As a mom of three year old Charlie (born the same month as Judah!) she knows that it's hard to find cute boy clothes. Steph has recently expanded- both her family, with the birth of cute little Gracie, and her site with adorable girl clothes! I plan to buy the Liam Pedipeds in khaki olive for Baby Tiny!

Speaking of Baby Tiny....5 days! During most of my pregnancy I was dreading my midwife appointments. Not that I don't love Cheryl, my midwife, but they kind of seemed like a waste of time. Since she started checking me I can't wait until Thursdays! I'm hoping that there is a lot more progress and everything goes quickly on Friday. I've been walking a lot (with plans to walk everyday this week) and taking primrose oil in the morning and at night.

Toward the beginning of my pregnancy I was reading the Book of Luke, in the Bible. It tells the story of John the Baptist, who was filled with the Spirit in the womb of his mother Elizabeth. I started praying this over Baby Tiny, even though I'd never heard of anyone doing that before. A few weeks later I read a book by Cesar Castellanos (who pioneered the G12 Vision) and how he had prayed the same thing for his daughter (who is now in her late 20s, married, and an anointed pastor and preacher).

Exciting Times!

I'm so excited! I won an extreme blog makeover from Shauna at See My Designs. I can't wait to see my new layout! I heard about Shauna from, Erika, who has a super cute layout made by her.

If you're reading my twitters then you already know that I'm 2cm dilated and 80% effaced as of yesterday (Thursday). All is going along as planned to meet this little boy on Friday. I couldn't sleep last night because I'm so excited. I laid in bed awake for a long time, then woke up (and stayed up) after Eric's alarm went off at 6:30. I usually don't even hear it, but if I do I can go right back to sleep. Needless to say, I was super sleepy today, so I took a nap at the same time as Samuel. Judah, being the amazing little boy that he is, played his elmo computer games while I slept. He couldn't be any easier!

I'm feeling really good about my transition to being a mama of 3 boys. I think the key is going to be to get right back into my normal life as soon as possible. I'm sure I'll take a week or two to relax and recuperate, but I want to be in relationship/fellowship as much and as soon as possible. I know that I need to rely on the strength of the Lord and not my own strength. My "rhema" word (the thing that God has really been speaking to me) has been, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I know continuing to minister to my disciples and transition into life with Baby Tiny is going to require me to find rest for my soul in the Lord. God has called me to give 100% to both of these important roles in my life- taking care of my natural children and my spiritual children, and I feel so blessed to have both. I'm excited to see what these next few weeks hold for me and my family! We love you Baby Tiny!

More Pictures!!

One of the last thing we had left to do before Baby Tiny is figure out our new camera. I think that's officially done. The Valentine's Day pictures were taken on our other camera, but we just got them off the memory card. Now we just need to make sure we have plenty of batteries.

Today, the boys were with my mother in law, so I:
-Did 4 loads of laundry: baby socks, mittens, blankets, bouncy seat, our bed sheets, lots of clothes
-Made several phone calls and scheduled my week
-Did the dishes
-Organized shoes that are too little for the boys
-Took a shower & blow dryed my hair
-Studied and prepared for cell group: "But he must ask in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea,driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." James 1:8 The opposite of doubt is faith, believing that God will do what He said He would do no matter the circumstances. The key to having faith is knowing God and knowing His character through the reading the Bible and through prayer.

I still have a few more things to do (like put the laundry away), but I'm feeling very productive!

Papa & Mama on Valentine's Day


Mama & Baby Tiny on Valentine's Day


Reading books before bed last night


Samuel posing


This is totally random, but sometimes Samuel reminds me of Will Ferrell. Do you see the resemblance? Maybe it's the hair. ;)

Two Silly Boys

Soon to be three!



My sweet, sweet boys. Right now they're watching a video together. It's so fun to watch them interact- Judah's arm around Samuel, dancing together, and sharing a snack. I love them! They get big so fast (I know, I know...so cliche) I want to cherish every moment with my ever-growing gentlemen.

Twittering and Pregnancy Hormones

Do you twitter? If you haven't noticed I added a twitter to the top of the right column. Twitter is supposedly the fastest growing, quick blogging sight on the net. (I could look up some newspaper article and give you an exact quote, but that would be quite a bit of work, wouldn't it?) So, go join! And, become my "follower," and I'll become yours. And, expect lots of twitters (is that what they're called?) after baby, because it's just so quick and easy.

So, I have 13 days left if all goes as planned. I feel like I need to add the "if all goes as planned" everytime I talk about my induction, because it's much different than most. It's not like a scheduled c-section or even like and induction with pitocin. It's going to be completely led by what my body is already doing. I'm praying that my body is working hard and is all ready for the 25th, though.

I'm feeling really emotional and a little crazy. I guess I've been feeling this way the whole pregnancy, but I'm choosing to lead my emotions and not be led by them. One moment I feel really excited about everything that's going on, my plans to teach/lead the encounter with a 6 week old baby, be at church when baby is 1 week because our church is moving, and the next moment I just want to lay in my bed and sleep...for a LONG time! I know that not just during pregnancy (but especially) emotions and unpredictable, so I'm just going to choose to continue to be somewhat normal. haha

Quick Baby Update

1.5 cm dilated and 60% effaced. He's lower than he was last week. 2 weeks to go if all goes as planned! I'm measuring 37 week and will be 37 weeks exactly tomorrow.
I also asked my midwife how big this baby will be. She's said she's guessing he'll be smaller than the boys at the lower end of 7 lbs. We shall see... (Judah was 7lbs, 11oz and Samuel was 8lbs, 9oz)

Bare Bellies

Another Baby Update

Just so you know, the next few weeks are probably going to be filled with Baby Tiny updates. I do have other things going on in my life (mostly with winning the lost and making disciples, which I'm really excited about! I'm working on balancing keeping momentum in my ministry, with taking care of me, and having a new baby. Also, my two big boys are precious, and smart, and adorable, although Samuel has been more clingy and fussy. Does he know his world is about to change?)

I am now going to my midwife appointments every Thursday. Last Thursday I was 1 cm dilated and 40% effaced (the exact same with Samuel), so she told me to go walking everyday to get this baby down. He hasn't dropped yet, but I'm sure it will be soon! We got his pack n play today, so he has somewhere to sleep. All we really need to do is pack for the hospital and put his carseat in the car, but I'm not in a hurry to do those thing because I really don't think he's coming early.

We have our new camera, but I'm still figuring out how to get them off the camera, onto the computer, onto flickr, and onto my blog. I need Eric to help me, but he's been busy! So, expect some new pictures very, very soon!

Incredibly blessed!!!

Last night I went to cell group, as I do every Thursday night. Except this time, when I walked in, everyone jumped out from behind the counter and yelled, "Surprise!" I was so confused, thinking, "who is this for? it's not my birthday." I quickly realized that it was a Baby Shower....for ME!! Two of my bestfriends, and the most thoughtful girls, Laura and Brooke, threw it for me. Unfortunately, we forgot our cameras, so you'll just have to trust me that it looked like as much fun as it was.

There was delicious food (fruit salad, french bread w/ yummy hummus dip, peach cobbler, I can't remember the rest...Laura? I know that I ate it, though!). The games were fun/funny and there are some girls that are very competitive!

I got some fun presents (a baby book, blanket, Got Milk? onsies, and some belly lotion), but Brooke and Laura knew that what I really wanted was my Beco carrier, so they had everyone pitch in for it. I can't wait to order it. Yay! I am SO EXCITED!! Thank you so much girls....I love you!

This morning I had maternity pictures taken, for the first time. It was a lot of fun and I let, Jenn, the photographer do whatever she wanted. I can't wait to see them....I'll post my favorites when I get them back.

Trip Away and Nesting Mode

Last weekend Eric and I had our first weekend away, since kids, with the only goal to relax. We'd had other weekends away where we were teaching at encounters or going to conferences, but this weekend we had no agenda. The last time we'd done that was in November of 03 for my 21st birthday. It was so nice!

We stayed at the Cypress Inn at Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco. We had so much fun! All we really did was walk on the beach, walk around the cute little downtown, read our Bibles and our books, and watch tv. The inn we stayed at was right across the street from the beach, it was so beautiful! I even found a whole sand dollar, but left it in the room. And, Eric got to sleep in! Our favorite past was the food at the inn (at least that was Eric's!). They made delicious breakfasts in the morning, had snacks in the late afternoon, and homemade desserts at night. Good thing we did a lot of walking!

The only bummer is that we didn't have a camera. Ours had broke, so we took a few pictures on our phones. The great thing is that my dad ordered us a new camera (I requested it as our new baby gift) and it was waiting on our doorstep when we got home (a Canon powershot). Yay! Thanks DAD!!

Speaking of baby, I think I'm officially in nesting mode. Since we've gotten back from our trip I've purged Judah and Samuel's rooms of all unnecessary toys, packed up their clothes that are too small, and cleaned and organized their rooms. Eric brought in the changing table and all the baby clothes, so they're ready for me to go through. I bought a few crates to put on the changing table shelves, since all the baby stuff will be in our room! It's going to be crowded, but it will fit. Tonight we're going to Target to get some stuff we still need. And, once we buy or order the pack n play and the baby has somewhere to sleep I think we'll be pretty close to ready. I can't wait to meet him...24 days left! (Tentatively...)