Ethan's new cute saying!

We will ask Ethan if Mark is "pretty" and he will say, "No he's a BOY!" Do the same for Alexis, "YEH, she's a Goyle" Go through everyone we know and he is spot on with the boys and girls and all the boys he will say are Handsome, and goyles are pretty! He Blows us away everyday. Then he knows how old all his siblings and himself are. But if you put him on the spot in front of ppl he will say they are all 2! ;)

Horton Hears a WHO!

I could not believe the wisdom and conviction of this young girl! Had to share this video with you all! God will use the lil ones!!!!

Pray for Kylen!

I babysit a 11 month old, Kylen, that is in the hospital for dehydration! He isn't doing well and they can't figure out what is wrong. He has had 27 poopy dipes in 1 day! Please pray for him. He tends to be in the hospital a lot for that. I will keep you updated on new news. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Photo shoot of Ethan! Had a blast!

I am going to number them I want to know which ones are your faves? It is hard for me to choose I love them all! I did some color too but I will post those too. He has been a bit under the weather so the color ones show the redness in his face more. But these turned out awesome!
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15


Please let me know what you think? I have more to down load but can't seem to get them to upload! I will keep trying.

What a sight!

This morning I woke up and took my shower... then I went in to peak on the kids c if any of them were up.. and low and behold, I saw a bare naked baby bum sticking up in the air! Ethan had stripped his clothes and diaper obviously early in the night! What a sight! I got him out and sat him on the potty.. he went... then JR gave him a shower! A much needed shower! His bed was saturated in urine! and so was he! I had to laugh or I might have cried! One of those unforgetable moments! I am very thankful he didn't go #2! LOL, then I probably would have cried!

Some pics of Ethan! (on his 2nd B'day)

Ethan just being a cutie batootie!




This is his excited face when he saw the "boons".



"Boons up!", it was hot air balloon days here in Creston the day we had his b'day party.

Today is the first day of my new JOB!

I have started babysitting today! I will be babysitting for a mom who works at a pre-school so the hours work out pretty nice! I will be working when my kids are in school and off when they are off. I will have a 6mo baby, a 3 yo girl and 4yo boy. The older 2 won't be all the time though. I will have Friday's off too. I really am looking forward to the extra money! It will help with our new vehicle payment and such. Anyway here I go on my new adventure! I will get my baby fix for a while so I don't feel that tugging again! LOL! Plus I will get to wear a baby again too. I only wear Ethan when it's a necessity anymore, he is too heavy.

Yet another good poem... Your Highest Vocation!

YOUR HIGHEST VOCATION!

Dear happy homemakers, a wonderful breed,
God’s purpose for you is to raise a godly seed,
Children that are obedient, holy and pure,
With mother at home, they’ll be happy and secure.

Secure in God’s love and protected from the world,
Guarded from evil and grounded in God’s Word
By a mother who has embraced her calling divine,
The prophetic word God gave from the beginning of time.

You’re now planted at home, you’ve found your “glory”!
Left your job behind - that was another story!
You’ve now been promoted to a much higher career!
You’re in God’s perfect will so you don’t have to fear.

You’re nurturing, nourishing and building your nest,
Under your husband’s covering, you’re totally blessed.
God has promised to provide, He is Jehovah Jireh,
He will always be faithful, He is not a liar.

You are an “arrow polisher”, daily sharpening your arrows,
You’re not pecking on the ground like little sparrows,
But soaring like the eagle, your stature is high,
You’re changing the course of the nation as on God you rely!’

Dear mighty mothers, stand up and be strong,
Don’t be fooled by the enemy and the worldly throng,
Don’t be deceived by the “mindset” of this society,
Embrace your motherhood, it is your highest priority!

Don’t be conformed to the humanistic trend,
It only leads to heartache in the final end.
Be a non-conformist, stand against the tide,
You don’t have to be governed by this world’s pride.

Instead be transformed by God’s living Word,
He is restoring His truth, will you be stirred?
Will you be part of this end-time restoration,
To bring forth the godly seed and change the nation?

God is preparing a people for Jesus’ second appearing,
He wants an army of arrows, trained and unfearing,
Straight arrows to go forth from the parents’ bow,
The deceptions of Satan to overthrow.

May you experience God’s anointing and His daily renewing
As you become part of this revival which is all God’s doing.
You will be part of heralding the coming of the King
As you build God’s army – and His praises will ring.


Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

HELP! Another good poem I found!

HELP!

"Sometimes, dear Lord, it seems as tho' the children never stop!
They ask and ask, and ask again, until my ears near pop!

"Mum, fix my shoe," "Help brush my hair." "I want another drink."
"Come quickly, Mum, I think the cat has fallen in the sink!"
Demands, demands, and more demands, Help, Lord, it's getting tough.

I know that mothers should be kind, but this one's had enough!
What's that, Lord? You mean to say These children are in Your plan?
To help me learn to grow into A more mature woman?

Dear Lord, I know You gave and gave, Had so much patience too.
Help me to see a mother's job can make me more like You.



By Jenny Hodgkinson

No Substitute! Loved this poem!

NO SUBSTITUTE

Swings for arms,
Bottles for breasts,
Advice from the 'experts'
Who think they know best.


'Binky's and monitors
And all sorts of clutter
Think they can take
The place of a mother.


Pre-schools and daycares,
And babysitters, too,
Think they can do
What mothers should do.


Oh listen, dear mother
To words that are true -
No one or nothing
Can care just like you.


Your children are blessings
Loaned from above,
More than money or things
What they need is your love.


By Cynthia Flanagan.

I was published!!

Well I decided to share my joy with you all too after I saw Keren's post on being published. JR actually ran across it when he was reading the magazine! I never expected it ever. YAY! It is in Above rubies and here is the link ( http://rubies.articledirectoree.com/poems/page_3.html )to the Magazine but I can't seem to find the article online but it is in the mag! Issue 74 page 12 if you get it! It is about how to keep children quiet in church. I shared my secrets bags of tricks. We bring real stuff! like a roll of masking tape and washed up vaseline jar and several other real things.

Babies can be so cute!

It has been so fun lately! Ethan's speech has just exploded! He has started saying so much! He can now say Hannah but it sounds like HONEY! Today he was mad at her because he was helping get ice for the cups and Hannah (I mean Honey) started helping to so he started screeming HONEY HONEY HONEY! In such a mean voice but it was so hilarious! He didn't want any part of her helping out at all! I am really enjoying listening to him talk lately!

Not only is Ethan a brainiac but a PERFECTIONIST!

Last night I was tucking him in and he moved his pillow probably 5-7 times and trying it out now and then to get it in just the right place! He moved it and then tried it and did it again until he got it just right and in the center might I add! He is so like his daddy! LOL

We have a BRAIN on our hands (bragging rights)!

OK I am not bragging just to brag because he's my child. I would post this had it been any 19mo child I know! Today I was giving Ethan some string cheese and I was tearing it apart b/c he can't really maneuver it himself. I was counting the pieces as I put it down on the tray for him and I had to pause at 8 because some was stuck together and then all the sudden out of the mouth of a 19mo baby came the word "nine" plain as day! I about passed out! What he can't have just said that!?!?!?!?! I was floored. I had no idea how much that boy was really soaking in! Everyday these kids amaze me with something new! WOW way to go Ethan!

Another Cowboy in our Midst

I don't honestly understand why but all our kids love cowboy hats and boots! Plus Mark loves country music everytime he hears it?!?!?! Neither JR or I like it, in a matter of fact we both really DON'T like it at all!



To each his own I guess. Still a fun photo to share!

Baby Eating a SALAD!

Ever seen a baby eat this?



Like this?


Plate after endless plate!!!


Looks like we have yet another Ranch Boy on our hands!


He ended up eating 5 Plates of SALAD!


Enough to make a MAMA proud!

Not to be redundant...but more stuff on Babywearing!

Great things about babywearing

What are some of the really hard things about parenting?
Your baby seems to need you all the time
It can be tricky to get much else done, other than care for your baby
You want your baby to be as happy and content as she can be.
Sometimes this seems really hard - tiring and frustrating
It can be difficult to have much of a life, while so much of your time is taken up with your baby




Babywearing's great for you:
Cook dinner during the "arsenic hour" and soothe your baby at the same time
Do the gardening, chores, socialise, even dance, while providing a stimulating learning environment for your baby
Breastfeed hands-free while on the phone or shopping
Keep your baby close and happy while playing with your toddler
Get some exercise (walking) while your baby sleeps
No need to lug around an awkward, heavy carseat, or battle getting a stroller into your car, onto a bus or up stairs.





Babywearing = keeping your baby happy + getting on with your life
It's also great for your baby:
Babies cry less. Research has shown that babies who are carried cry (on average) 43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours (1). In cultures where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures (2-6).





Good for baby's mental development. Babies spend more time in a "quiet, alert state" when carried - the ideal state for learning. Their senses are stimulated while being carried (yet there is a place to retreat too). When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people's knees from a stroller. And the extra stimulation benefits brain development.

Good for baby's emotional development. Babies are quickly able to develop a sense of security and trust when they are carried. They are more likely to be securely attached to their care-giver/s (7) and often become independent at an earlier age (8).




Good for baby's physical development. By being so close to your body's rhythms, your newborn "gets in rhythm" much more quickly. Your heartbeat, breathing, voice and warmth are all familiar. Research has shown how this helps newborns (especially premature babies) to adapt to life outside the womb (9).
Good for babies whose mums are depressed. Babies who are not held need more verbal interaction and eye contact, just to be reassured that you're there. Carrying your baby is a great way to connect with her (and provide stimulation too) without the "burden" of having to interact (10). Of course your baby is "right there" to enjoy whenever you feel like snuggling, kissing or talking.
It's great for other people who look after your baby:
Partners who work away from home, relatives and babysitters all have a ready way of connecting with and soothing your baby when they wear him too!

Many people are discovering how well babywearing works in their lives. Try it for yourself and see!

P.S. none of these pics are our kids!

Heaven's Nursery

In Heaven there must surely be

A special place, a nursery

Where 'little spirits' not fully grown

Go to live in their Heavenly home.

The angels must attend with love

Tiny spirits on wings of doves,

The choir of angels must sing lullabies

Maybe quieten their tiny cries.

The Father must come by each day

To cuddle and play in a special way

These tiny spirits left earth too soon

Little ones called Home from the womb.

These sparks of life did not perish

But came to the Father's love to cherish,

To grow and be taught in His own arms

Safely away from all earthly harm.

The comforter was sent to earth at once

To the parents who lost their little one

Their hearts so ache, their arms feel empty

The question 'why' seems so tempting.

Then all at once in the midst of tears

There comes a peace that stills the fears

The parents share the Father's own need

To hold their tiny spirit being.

They relinquish their own desperate hold

And release their baby to the Father's fold,

Then comes an angel to whisper the truth

Of a nursery in Heaven bearing rich fruit

Of tiny spirits chosen to worship the Father

A place that couldn't be filled by another,

Called to be spared from the struggles of earth,

Chosen to be one of Heaven's births.

So Father, whisper words of love from me

To our unborn 'life' in your nursery.

BY: Rebekah Milne

Written after her own miscarriage

I just thought this was very touching and wanted to share it for whoever wanted to read it on my blog. Hope it touches your hearts.