3 more days...

...of summer with this boy!

I didn’t think I’d be saying this right now, but I am not ready for it to be over.  For most of the summer we’ve had different things to keep Louis busy;  but the last couple weeks have been pretty slow and uneventful for him, and even more so busy for me.  To be completely honest (for those who don’t know this already), being Louis’ mother is quite difficult for me.  Rob is soo good with him… he has no idea.  He always knows the right thing to say and how to explain things to Louis when we are trying to discipline him or just explain things to him.  I, on the other hand, apparently talk gibberish.  

Louis and I have a really hard time communicating with each other and speaking the same language.  We are very different and sometimes it drives me crazy!  I know God is using this and will help us grow in this area.  But, that is never my first thought when we are in the middle of it!  What saves us is (besides Rob chiming in and helping me out) for me to really love on him and hug and hold him.  Louis needs this just as much as, if not more than, my two year old.  I am really good at forgetting this… I often selfishly take advantage of that little window of time in the afternoon when both girls are napping, to be alone and rest or get something done, instead of asking Louis if he wants to sit and read with me… or on the weekends, I go to the store by myself to get half an hour of alone time, instead of asking him if he wants to go with me and getting that one on one time with him to love on him and talk to him.  He needs these times with me and I’ve begun to realize that I need them too.  Even though I sometimes need the extra push from someone to do these things, I am always so glad that I did it.  I’m not sure if it helps him or me more.    

 

Being a mom is one of the things that I’ve wanted for as far back as I can remember.  I always thought I was going to be such a great mom… until I became one!  There are so many days that I feel so guilty for not being the mom that Louis needs me to be.  I fail so often and sometimes fear that the times that I don’t feel like I’ve failed, will not be enough to make up for when I do fail.  But then I remember that God chose me to be Louis’ mom and that his purpose will prevail.  No matter how much I mess up, Louis is going to be who God created him to be.  I know a day will come, when I am least expecting it, that Louis will not want to sit and read with me, or won’t want to tag along when I go to the store… he will have other things he’d rather do than hang out with his mom.  I have already lost so much time with him and there is such little time left… only 7 more summers! 

Summer of 2012, part one

If you keep up with our blog, I'm sure you've noticed we've been away for a while.  We've stayed busy this summer and are still trying to figure out this "three kids" thing.  I think we are beginning to figure it out... somewhat.  I sat down to do some catch up on the blog and realized there is just too much, so I am going to do it in 2 or 3 parts.  Here we go...

Two weeks after celebrating Kinsley's birthday in May, we celebrated our one year anniversary of legally having Louis as a part of our family (two years in our hearts).  Rob made an awesome photo book for Louis of the last couple years as well as some of Louis' history before he came to us.  Everyone in our immediate family wrote a letter to Louis and they were all included in the book.  It was very special!

We celebrated Mother's Day in Kissimmee.

This is one of the few (complete) family pictures that we have since Makayla was born.

Playing doctor..

 Doing some tumbling!  Louis went to gymnastics camp for a week, so I let Kinsley try out a tumbling class one day.  She wasn't too sure about it, but got a ribbon to show for it! 

Kinsley has really started getting into playing with Makayla as she gets bigger.  She especially liked playing on the baby gym and acting like a baby.  :)

Happy, happy..

Fishing with friends...

In June we celebrated Rob's 30th birthday!!!! We had some family and friends help us surprise him with a party!

Then we celebrated Father's Day!  Rob, his dad, and Louis went to a Ray's game.

Rob and Louis went to a "You and Me" camp that Rob used to be a counselor at.  They had lots of fun, but these are the only pictures they came back with...

Little sissy sucking her thumb... and toe.

 

And I'll leave you with that... Hopefully we'll be back soon for part two! :)

Catch up

Easter Egg Coloring @ the Lilly's

Easter Sunday

Sharp looking boy... We gave Louis an Experiencing God workbook, and this is him getting into it!

Bad smellin, but good looking.

Louis was the entertainment for the afternoon taking Kinsley and Adelyn

on a wagon ride around the world.

From the wagon to the bath. These girls were loving every minute of it.

Makayla Alexandra putting on the cute for us.

Kinley's 2 Year Birthday Party. A couple of blow up pools, a trampoline, good eats with friends and family. Couldn't have asked for anything better.

This is the sign for thank you. It is also the motion you make to stuff food in your mouth.

Where the Wild Things Are

We are all a little crazy right now...

Kinsley, has no idea why this baby doll Makayla is getting so much attention. But she is starting to play along by giving lots of "misses", translated kisses.

Louis, is getting really creative with how to get attention now that it's being spread thin.


Darla, after not sleeping, getting pulled in 4 four directions at once (yes, I am one of those directions) and getting pooped, peed and spit on (and not just by Makayla)... all I can say is that she is a trooper...

And what do I have to complain about? Well lets just say everyday I am convicted about my own selfishness...

Here are some highlights:





And when things get unbearable, well we just watch this over and over again!

Happy Leap Day!

Today Makayla is three weeks old! It has already gone by so fast. Our family and household has been all out of sorts but we are surviving and I think we are starting to (sort of) figure it all out. We still have a ways to go but we are hopeful! :) Here are some pictures from her first three weeks...

1 week

2 weeks

First bath!

3 weeks

And of course, the rest of my sweeties... we needed a family outing by week 2, so we loaded up and went to the zoo! Makayla too (oh, the differences between your first and second...), but we didn't get a picture of her.