I Shall Not Be in Want & President Batman

"The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not be in want." ~Psalm 23:1

Daniel Isaac has been one of my greatest teachers...from the moment I found out our Lord was knitting him together in my womb and continuously since. I have had several of our wonderful family members ask for ideas of what he wants for Christmas and his upcoming birthday. So the other day I asked him, and he matter-of-factly replied, "Anyfing. I already have chocolate milk and gummie bears." (Which means "nothing"...he just gets those words confused.) So later I asked him again, "Baby, what do you want for Christmas and your birthday?" He raised his eyebrows and said, "Mommy, I already told you. I don't want anyfing." What a beautiful lesson on contentment from my son! He is content in all that our Shepherd has provided him. He is not looking around at what he does not have but rather happy as a lark with what he does have and with what has been provided for him. The Lord is his Shepherd....and he is not in want.

President Batman

We were eating dinner at Moe's with my family the other night, and Daniel Isaac pointed to a poster of Gene Chizik on the wall and said, "Look Daddy, it's President Obama." Daniel said, "No, that's Gene Chizik; he's the Auburn football coach." And Daniel Isaac, cocked head and eyebrows raised replied, "Well, he sure does look just like President Obama." Not sure where he got that from and why he was on such an Obama kick...but later in the evening he told my sister, "You know what? President Obama is Batman!" So later I asked him, "How do you know that President Obama is Batman? Did somebody tell you that?" He said, "No Mommy. I finked (thinked) of it all by myself. I just used my imagination. And he is Batman." So for those of you that didn't know, the secret is out...our President is Batman.

Indoor Ideas for Fun...

1. Take pictures of really cute, smiley, chubby babies.

2. Bake with Mommy...especially if it involves chocolate.

3. Leap from the furniture. (Probably not the safest...but one of the most fun.)

4. Help get the corner cob webs on Daddy's shoulders.

5. Build a ramp/obstacle course for your match box cars on your train table...ending with the cars landing in the cement truck mixer. (DI enjoyed this more than it appears in the picture...and he came up with this on his own.)

6. Climb up Daddy like a monkey on a jungle gym.

7. Watch "The Little Rascals" online for free, and then do your very own Alfalfa hair-do.

8. Put on your really cool Spiderman swimsuit and play with bath foam (found on the same aisle at Wal-Mart as bubble bath, inexpensive and smells good, too!)

Two Month Check-Up...blood, sweat and tears

Noah David (and Mommy) survived his 2 month check up...but not without blood, sweat, and tears. Noah David doesn't "bleed well", so he had his 3rd PKU done in addition to 4 shots on Thursday. The PKU started it with a heel prick and then about 5 minutes of the nurse trying her best (very sweet nurse, too) to get enough blood for them to test. Following those tears, Noah David had worked himself into a good sweat, and then had to have his 4 shots. I believe all of this hurt his feelings as much as it hurt him. It is terribly sad to see, and after about 5 long minutes of consoling and nursing him, he calmed down. He had a slight fever and didn't feel well the rest of the day, but today he was all better! Whew!

Despite all of that, he is a healthy, growing boy, and we are so thankful! He weighed 15 pounds and 8 ounces and is 24 and 3/4 inches long! He's in the 90th percentile for height and 95th percentile for his weight. BIG BOY! We love our pediatricians, and are thankful for a wonderful staff to go along with them!

I could not help but think about how the Lord must feel when He allows necessary pain in our lives, knowing that there are long term benefits and that it's for good...and for His purposes. I could never imagine just standing there trying to soothe Noah David getting hurt if I did not believe and know that he was being hurt for his good and for his protection. As an infant, of course, he does not see this or know this. Just as we, God's children, do not see and cannot see all that God has in store and planned for us. Pain is necessary in our journey as Believers, to help us grow, to keep us healthy, and to keep us reliant on the Almighty Father we serve. As tough as it may be, and as much as we may cry, sweat, and bleed over this...be encouraged, our Father loves us dearly, has a plan, and sees far more than we can imagine.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us like you do and for caring enough about us to allow difficulty in our lives for our good and ultimately that we may serve and glorify your Name!

Noah David...talkin' and smilin'

Noah David's personality is absolutely precious, and we are enjoying him so very much. His face lights up with a bright smile all day long...at the sound of his big brother, Daddy, seeing something he likes, after eating, and "just because". He "talks" to us, as well when he hears us having conversations, he joins in wholeheartedly with coos and other sweet baby sounds. Of course, it's hard to capture quickly enough on video, but here's a little glimpse into the precious sounds and sights of sweet Noah David.

As I laid in bed the other night, just staring at Noah David, as I so often find myself doing, tears streamed down my face as I pictured our Lord literally weaving and knitting him together. I looked at each finger, his beautiful long curled eye lashes, the peach fuzz on his forehead, his wavy strawberry blonde hair, his pudgy cheeks, his precious chin that looks like it was carefully placed in the middle of his double chin...and I just wept in awe of our Creator and how carefully He crafted Noah David. I thought, "He knows the exact number of peach fuzzies on his head!" He has a beautiful plan for Noah David, and we are so thankful for the opportunity to parent him. Daniel Isaac continues to adore and show such sweet affection to Noah David (who he now calls "Chancho" since his "cheeks are so chubby, Mommy"). Daniel Isaac and Noah David are such gifts to us, and we are in constant awe and gratitude to our Father for giving them to us.

Our Family's Hero

This picture was taken on our wedding day. My white knight in shining armor...and he still is. Daniel and I met in high school and dated a little over 5 years before we were married in January 8, 2005...that means we will have been together 10 years this January! What a gift from the Lord it is to be married to my very best friend. As a husband, he is loving--constantly and consistently. He is gentle and strong. He is patient beyond belief. He is an incredible leader and loves the Lord in such a real way. Daniel is and has been my hero for nearly a decade now.

And now I get to watch him be our sons' hero. Daniel Isaac adores his daddy tremendously. He wants to dress like daddy, shower like daddy, shave like daddy, swim like daddy, be strong like daddy, grow up big and tall like daddy, work like daddy, etc. The list goes on. He is so amazed by his father and so blessed to have a father on this earth who loves and ministers to him so much like our heavenly Father. I get to witness Daniel's love and patience with Daniel Isaac day in and day out. He teaches him, and Daniel Isaac learns. Daniel is absolutely 100% Daniel Isaac's hero.

Noah David is also discovering Daniel as his hero. He responds to Daniel's voice with a huge grin...eyes full of excitement. Daniel is so loving and gentle with Noah David, rocking, bouncing and swinging with him to comfort him. Noah David especially likes Daddy's whistle and lights up like a Christmas tree when Daniel whistles for him...he only does this for Daniel's whistle. Daniel is teaching Noah David that he is there, he can trust him, he will take care of him...just as our Father in heaven does.

How thankful I am to have such an incredible leader and best friend. Daniel is our rock. Our boys are so blessed to have him as their role model and as their teacher and shepherd. I am praising our Lord for the gift of Daniel and the hero he is to our family!

Daniel Isaac's First Day of Pre-School!

Daniel Isaac had a wonderful first day of school today. He calls it "Sunshine High School"...it's actually Sonshine Preschool at First United Methodist Church. Daniel Isaac felt the need to sport his official Sonshine Preschool t-shirt, and we're in the process of explaining that while it is a t-shirt with his school's name on it, he does not in fact need to wear it every day to school. He has two really sweet, loving teachers and a classroom full of fun boys and girls. He was very proud of his lunch box and the ability to wear his own back pack. He is also glad that Barney is a part of his classroom and talked to him the entire way to school this morning. (It's actually just the Barney stuffed animal with me doing the Barney voice and DI carrying on a lovely conversation with him...can we say imagination?) I am looking forward to seeing my sweet boy continue to grow and learn.

A day at the doctor...whew!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Noah David had his first doctor check up yesterday. He is doing GREAT. He weighs 12 pounds and 8 ounces and is 23.5 inches long! He's gained 4 pounds since birth and grown 2.5 inches, and he has really good head control. He also shared some if his delightful, toothless grins with her and showed off his sweet ability to follow voices with his big, bright blue eyes. What a joy he is! Brother Daniel Isaac came along and "helped" Noah David understand what all happens at the doctor. Daniel Isaac explained to Noah David as the nurse was taking his temperature, "Noah David, that's a thermometer to take your temperature. It doesn't hurt; don't be scared." Daniel Isaac also felt the need to be completely involved in the examination and in the blood extraction from Noah David's heel during his PKU test. Thankfully, we have a very wonderfully patient pediatrician and nurse who helped and tolerated all the input. Sweet Noah David did not appreciate the one shot or heel prick, but after some nursing with mama, he calmed down. He fell fast asleep in the sling on our way to check out.

I had requested Daniel Isaac's immunization record that's required for him to start "school", only to find out that he was behind on several of his shots. SO, since he'd been for his 2 year check up in February and it was somehow overlooked, they agreed to just give him the 3 shots while we were still there. Noah David in tow in the sling, and my large (32 pound), very energetic Daniel Isaac who'd already been at the doctor for an hour and a half returned to the waiting room. Thankfully, Daniel Isaac didn't ask why...as he is very tickled by the oversized "funny chairs" that he was counting. I sent out a text to several to PRAY for DI as he was about to get shots, and boy was the Lord ever so present! The nurse was AWESOME and really quick. She did great at being discreet with the needles. Daniel Isaac didn't even shed a tear...he only poked his bottom lip out and said to the nurse and to me, "I didn't want the doctor to do that to me." He was SO big and so brave. He was rewarded with peppermints, lunch at CiCi's (his favorite), and Daddy brought home a rocket for him!

God is so good to us...all of us. I was a bit concerned at how DI would do at the doctor all morning with Noah David in the first place. But the Lord TOTALLY took care of that and worked in Daniel Isaac's heart. He listened and obeyed and was so sweet and well-behaved. I was then really nervous about Daniel Isaac's reaction and how I would be able to really comfort him while Noah David was in the sling right there with us. The Lord did it, though...He totally filled Daniel Isaac with courage and held him for me. Why do I waste so much time and energy worrying about if and how the Lord God will take care of us and meet our needs? He had it all worked out and all planned, and I need only trust Him and His provision...whether or not I can "foresee" how He's got it all worked out. Thank you, Father, for always taking such good care of us and providing for all of our needs. Thank you also for Noah David and Daniel Isaac who are growing so healthy and strong!