From the lips of children...

I have a few Daniel Isaac sweet stories....

#1

Last night when we were in the living room...I was feeding Noah David (as usual...sweet little boy who's always hungry).  Daniel Isaac said, "Mommy, will you hold me?"  I responded, "I would love to hold you, and I will as soon as Baby Brother finishes eating."  So then he gets his "soft blanket" and brings it in there and wraps himself up in it and announces out of nowhere, "Mommy, when I get big like Daddy, I'm going to marry you!"  Of course tears filled my eyes and I said, "That's so sweet, Baby.  What will Daddy do, though?"  And he very confidently responded as he had it all planned out, "Daddy will sing while you and me dance!"  I know that the days of Daniel Isaac wanting to marry his mama are soon to pass, so I'm soaking up every second of this sweet child and the love that he shares so innocently.  

#2

Daniel and Daniel Isaac were eating breakfast at Chick-fil-a Saturday morning, and Daniel started eating his food.  Daniel Isaac declared, "Daddy, we didn't pray!"  So, Daniel said, "You're right, would you like to pray?"  And Daniel Isaac said, "Will you help me?"  So Daniel Isaac very seriously closed his eyes and bowed his head and began praying, "Thank you God for our food, for Daddy and for Mommy, and for Baby Noah, and for my house...."  

He again reminded us at church this morning before digging into our refreshments that we needed to pray.  This time he said, "God our Father, thank you for our blessings.  Thank you for Mommy and Daddy and our food and Baby Noah and our house and my shoes...."  He had a much longer list that I cannot remember, but it sure was sweet.  If I adore hearing his sweet voice thank our Lord, I just wonder how much more our Father in Heaven adores our thanks and praises.  And it really is true that as in Psalm 8:2, the verse painted in the boys' room, says "From the lips of children and infants, You have ordained praise." 

Thank you, Lord, for the sweet ways you use Daniel Isaac to bless me and praise You!  

Noah David...

Sweet Noah David!  He smiles so much...especially after eating and especially right when he wakes up in the morning.  He has a wonderful disposition and is so bright-eyed and curious about the world around him.  He is really relaxed and "goes with the flow".  He loves Daniel Isaac and already "perks up" and follows Daniel Isaac's voice (which is usually quite loud and enthusiastic).  We are enjoying his precious life so much.  

The Co-Sleeper...love it!!

This is sweet Noah David sound asleep in the co-sleeper, one of my newest, most favorite baby must-haves!!  It's the size of a pack 'n play (and can actually convert to one if needed), except one side of it is the same height of our bed, and it's attached to our bed.  That way, Noah David and I can be close all night (and for naps!)...and for night feedings!  It's absolutely wonderful, and I wish I'd discovered it when Daniel Isaac was a baby...would have saved us a lot of unnecessary up-and-downs at night.  I barely even wake up to feed Noah David, and the only time I actually get up is if he has a dirty diaper (I change the wet ones right there in the bed).  This goes up to 30lbs., too, so he won't out grow it too soon.  Co-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS, as well as naturally assists with bonding and attachment parenting.  For more information from a professional, you can visit www.askdrsears.com.  Ok, my co-sleeper infomercial is done...hold on to your hats because the sling infomercial will be next...and then perhaps attachment parenting and then perhaps Dr. Sears...the list is endless!

Summer of Swimming!

Daniel Isaac is truly amazing!  He LOVES to swim and can actually swim on his own!  He jumps off the diving board, and he can swim at least 10 feet on his own.  He just learned to dive last week!  Daniel works with him a lot, and Daniel Isaac is so eager to learn and LOVES to be in the water.  This is one of my favorite swimming pics...his new goggles.  

What's in a Name?

Much thought and prayer was put into deciding Noah David's name.  There were several other names that both Daniel and I liked, but his name came to us individually and then we came together on it, and it's very cool to see that name fit our son.  The Lord named him.  

"Noah" is Hebrew and means "rest, peace, comfort".  My favorite Bible reference on this name is found in Genesis 6:8-9,  "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."  This is our prayer for our Noah...that he would find grace and favor in the eyes of the Lord, not man and that he would walk with God...and stand out for doing so.  We pray that he would be found righteous in the eyes of our Lord as He purifies and makes him so and that he will do incredible things for the Lord and for His Name's sake.  

"David" is Hebrew and means "beloved".  David in the Bible is known for many incredible attributes, including being in the line of Jesus.  My favorite Scripture description of him is found in I Samuel 16:12-13, "So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.  Then the LORD said, 'Rise and anoint him; he is the one.'  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power."  Our prayer for Noah David is also this...that the Lord would appoint him for great things for His Name's Sake and equip him to do so and that the Holy Spirit would come upon him in power.  David also is my wonderful big brother's middle name, and Noah David was named after him...yet another reason we're using it in a double name.  

Thank you, Lord for giving us our son's name and for equipping him to love and serve You!  

Brotherly Love

One of my concerns before having Noah David was how well Daniel Isaac would "adjust" to his attention being divided and how well he would welcome his baby brother.  This seems almost laughable now that Noah David is here and Daniel Isaac is the epitome of a loving brother to him.  Daniel Isaac is REGULARLY insisting that Noah David wants him and wants him to hold him...he is constantly supplying Noah David with sweet kisses and last night, my heart melted when he said, "Noah David, you're my best friend."  

We really prayed for both boys when I was pregnant and that the Lord would give them a good relationship, that Daniel Isaac would not experience jealousy in his heart over Noah David but would join in to welcome him and love and care for him.  I must say, that as usual, our Father answered this prayer above and beyond what I asked or imagined.  And now Daniel Isaac is saying that he is going to teach Noah David how to be a big brother for "all the 'nother children" we're going to have.  Thank you, Jesus, for the love you've placed in Daniel Isaac's tender heart for his baby brother! 

Lessons from the Lord straight from my boys....

Daniel Isaac got to meet his baby brother on Friday, July 3, and it was one of the most precious moments of my life. After he rubbed in the antibacterial wash very thoroughly, he sat with me in the hospital bed and asked to hold him. As he was holding him, he kept hugging him and leaned down and kissed him and said, "I love you, Baby Noah." It was precious.

The Lord spoke to me through this beautiful picture. The joy it brought to my heart as their mama, to see my son loving my other son and to see such pure affection and care shared made me wonder how much more our Father in heaven gets joy and delight in seeing us love each other. I received joy like this again today when Daniel Isaac voluntarily shared his monster truck (very prized possession) Noah David and wondered how much the Lord must love to see us sharing and loving each other. Just a thought....

Noah David has arrived!

Noah David is a week old today!  He is such a precious, sweet joy, and we are all delighted.  He came last Thursday night, July 2 at 11:36 p.m.  On Thursday morning at my doctor's appointment I still was not "efaced" and was still only 1 cm dilated, so Dr. Obiekwe told us to head to the hospital at 6 that evening.  She encouraged me to eat dinner...which was NOT a problem.  : )  We had a wonderful family day.  Daniel, Daniel Isaac and I enjoy my favorite Panera breakfast, a few errands, and then I got a wonderful nap with Daniel Isaac...one of the best things in the whole world.  By the time we woke up, it was time to load up and head out!  Daniel Isaac stayed with The Taylors (Grandmama and Papa), and Daniel and I headed to Provino's (my request) for our last date for a while.  I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of my food, and then we headed to the hospital.  We arrived at 6:00 p.m.; Dr. Obiekwe gave me the meds to ripen my cervix at 7:30 p.m., which usually doesn't begin labor.  However, I almost immediately started having contractions.  By 10:00 p.m., I got my epidural (thank you, LORD!!!), and after pushing for about 15-20 minutes, Noah David arrived healthy and perfect at 11:36 p.m.  He weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces and was 21 inches long.  He is beautiful!  

Really Large Picture...help???

Ok, so I wasn't trying to do a billboard size picture of our family on the blog....anyone have any suggestions for how to shrink the picture? I warned you; I am blog illiterate. : )

Perhaps tomorrow...

We are still awaiting Noah David's arrival. We have a doctor's appointment first thing tomorrow morning. Unless he's born tonight (which I highly doubt), Dr. Obiekwe (the best ob/gyn in the world!!!) will schedule me to be induced tomorrow or Friday. So, Noah David will be here in time for fire works! I still feel great and am able to do everything I normally do, so that's been awesome!! The Lord blessed me with a wonderful morning including my favorite breakfast from Panera (thank you for getting me hooked, Heather), a pedicure, haircut and birthday shopping. Then an afternoon nap with my sweet Daniel Isaac and cookie-making and celebrating John David's birthday tonight and he and Jessica finally here in Opelika to stay! I cannot say enough how good God is and how he is pouring such wonderful blessings on our family. Hopefully the next post will include pictures of Noah David and Daniel Isaac together!