Small but mighty...

I remember when I had just found out that we were expecting Rebecca. We went to JC Penney to look at maternity clothes. I was only about 6 weeks along so it was just insane excitement that sent me to that department. I did end buying something because I just couldn't resist the clothes that would show off my growing belly. I remember vividly that the lady who helped us said as we left, "your life will never be the same again." We laughed after we left because she said it like it was a bad thing. And of course, as a young married couple with no experience in parenting, we gasped at the thought of allowing children to dictate how we lived our lives. We would be the same... just add a new member to the household...
Fast forward 11 years... I was driving to the nursing support group that I attend and literally laughed out loud in the car as that long ago shopping trip came to my mind. Wow, to say that our lives haven't been the same is quite the understatement. I struggle to recall a life pre-children. Was there ever a time that it was just Charles & Irene? I know it is true because of the dates between our wedding day and the birth of Rebecca but it seems like a lost, distant memory. It is so funny how our lives are completely dictated by children. Not in a sense that they tell us how things will be run but how their activities rule my calendar. My close friends now are people who have children around the same ages as my children. My afternoons are now spent at soccer fields with other moms in this same season of life.
Now add the newest piece of the family, sweet baby Samuel and I have now conceded that life as we knew it has changed once again. Adding a baby to my home of 2 older kids was a more difficult transition than I had anticipated; but we are now wondering what we ever did before him and know that we wouldn't want to live without him.
Charles & I always laugh at how the smallest people in the house are the most demanding and who think that they get to rule the home.
I wonder if that is how God sees us. Compared to His power, wisdom and strength, we are much like the infant who is sleeping soundly in my home. He cannot get from one place to another without my help but he will scream with all of his might if he doesn't get what he wants, when he wants it. I find myself saying, "Baby, I know what you need. Just give me a minute and I will have it for you." Maybe I need to hear that word from God. "Daughter, I know your needs and I will take care of you. Just wait on my perfect timing."

Yay for Mommy's Milk

August 1-7 is National Breastfeeding week which celebrates the benefits of breastfeeding.

4 months!

Wow.. time is flying. I can't believe that we are already on the count down until school starts back! School supplies and uniforms are already starting to fill our house. Rebecca will be going into the 5th grade and Andrew will be in the 3rd grade. And... our sweet little Samuel was 4 months yesterday. He went for his check up today and weighed in at 13lbs 2 oz (25 percentile) and 25 inches long (50 percentile). We even got the go ahead to try some foods!!! So I made a Bilo run today and we tried some yummy sweet potatoes. He LOVED them. He was a little unsure about the first bite but then he grinned after every bite.
We are starting to get some sort of schedule and routine back. Samuel has been sleeping through the night for about 2 weeks now. That has made such a difference in how I feel during the day. I had been struggling just to get through the day after being up several times a night. It is amazing what a full night of sleep will do for your well being!
Well... here are a few shots of our first food and our summer.

Our Newest Member

I can't believe it has taken me 3 weeks to get this blog posted. Early in the morning of March 29, 2010, we welcomed Samuel Lee Weeks into our family, our hearts and our home. I was really hoping that he would hold out until April 1 so I could experience the brand new East Cooper Hospital; however, he had other ideas! So, we got to experience the last 3 days that the old hospital was open, filled with boxes against the walls and sparcely stocked rooms!
To say that he has changed our lives would not even begin to describe the adjustments in the Weeks home! Rebecca and Andrew have been amazing... I have no idea how I survived their infanthood without older siblings! They are always willing to lend a hand or just hold him, giving me the ability to do things like cook dinner, straighten the house and best of all ~ take a shower!
He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces at birth but lost down to 7 lbs, 7 oz by the time we were discharged from the hospital. At his 2 week check, he had only gotten to 7 lbs 8 oz so we had to go back the following Monday and then a week later. I am happy to report that yesterday (at 3 weeks old), he had gained to 8 lbs 2 oz! Now we're far from being a chunk but we were so happy that his weight is going in the right direction!
I never would have imagined that at 37, we would be starting over with an infant but I know that God has big plans for this child. I am so blessed and humbled to be a part of his story and to have the incredible responsibility to lead, guide and disciple him.

Taking a peak!

We had a 3D ultrasound today. It was really neat especially since they didn't offer those back when I had Rebecca & Andrew. Of course, the little guy moved all night last night and decided to chill and get cozy next to me during the ultrasound! She worked for about 45 minutes, turned me on my side, had me walk around...even blew some noise making contraption at my belly... and still he was calm and still with both hands in front of his face! So, we went to get some lunch and came back hoping to get him moving. Well, that still didn't work but we didn't manage to get a few cute shots.

We are about 10 1/2 weeks away and are getting excited! I registered for baby stuff on Monday and was so amazed at the amount of stuff there is to choose from! Who knew a baby could need so much. Babies R us actually had a baby spa. I mean, seriously, I don't go to a spa, why should baby??? So I basically just registered for the necessities like stroller, pack/play, bedding, tub and things like that. I decided to let my shower guests use their own tastes when picking out clothing and blankets. It was just too overwhelming to pick out every single item!

Let's take it slow...

Well, the New Year is almost upon us so it is that time again... to make goals that we HOPE to stick with (at least until the end of January :) Seriously though, we always do try to take this time to make a fresh start and evaluate our finances, family life, spiritual life, etc. One of the aspects of our family life that needs to change is the pace. It seems like we are always on the go and in a hurry. Something happened recently that made me realize that instant results are something that I have come to expect...
I purchased some of those energy saving LED light bulbs (you know the more expensive, curly ones). Well, I just replaced the bulb in the laundry room with the new one and for some reason, there is a second delay between flipping the switch and the light coming on... literally one second. I flip the switch, count "1, 1 thousand" and the light comes one. And do you know that one second drives me crazy? I growl, complain and whine in that one second. I threaten to leave the crazy light on all the time so I don't have to wait the one second (now isn't that an intelligent, energy-saving solution?) Now patience has never been one of my better traits but ONE SECOND????
So after about the 50th time of this happening, it occurred to me that I may need to slow things down just a bit. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye since I became a mother. We are getting ready to welcome a new addition in about 13 1/2 weeks. So as we begin this new decade, I am committing to focus most of my time on what is important and eternal. God has entrusted us with a certain amount of time. Let's not spend it turning our wheels keeping up with things that will not last.

As helpless babe...

We welcomed a new member to our family yesterday... my sweet nephew, Ashley Hunter Boone. He surprised us by coming a few days early (was due 1/1/10). I guess he wanted to be kind and give Debbie & Josh that awesome tax credit and deduction for all of 2009!! :) He is so precious and tiny weighing in at only 6 lbs, 12 oz.

As I was thinking about him this morning, I was sobered to think that our Savior was just that helpless as He came to earth. Maybe I made such a comparison because we are in the Christmas season but to have a real, tangible visible of what God Himself, the Savior of the world humbled Himself to become really touched me in a way that it never has before. Christmas carols and nativity scenes have a tendency to glorify the birth of Christ. Live nativity scenes usually have either a doll or a baby around 7-8 months old but in reality, God Himself was a helpless baby probably weighing around 7 lbs or less, completely and totally dependent upon Mary and Joseph for warmth, nourishment and safety.

As my 10 year old and 8 year old held their new cousin, we were constantly saying "Be careful", "Hold his head"... They, of course, washed up with soap and water before coming near him. Yet Jesus was born in a barn and placed in a feeding trough for animals! Any mother today would gasp at such a thought.

And to think that Jesus, as He lay there helpless, dependent, possibly crying or suckling as He searched His mother for nourishment was being worshipped and adored by shepherds who heard the Angel of God and followed the Savior.