Can you guess who?

Can you guess which one is Noah and which one is Karis? These pictures were taken very close to the same age. I'm sure that the clothes might give it away, and the fact that the exersaucers are different (Laura will easily know which one is which since Karis is in her excersaucer!).

In case you weren't sure, the first picture is Karis and the second is Noah. I do think that they look a lot alike at this age, but Noah seems to have more facial expressions. Their noses and mouths look exactly alike, but to me their eyes look very different, except the color! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I got a special morning to spend just with Noah. Karis went to play at Hannah's, and I took Noah to the YMCA to workout and then we hung out for awhile before his nap. I then cleaned out our closets while he slept before I went to get Karis. I didn't know I could put up winter stuff, go through all the drawers, and rearrange our closets in an hour (that is how long Noah sleeps in the morning). I guess not having Karis here helped a lot! Thanks Lori!! I know Karis had fun and so did I!

Please feed me so I can go to bed!

I think this picture says it all. It is very funny to see how Noah tells us that he is really tired. He puts both hands on his head and grabs it. He looks like he is in total distress. The first time he did it a few weeks ago, we laughed, but now we know it is time for the bottle and the bed when those arms start grabbing his head. He was so tired this night that his hands never moved the whole time he drank his bottle.
Children are so different. Karis was always, and still is, and eye rubber. When she gets tired, she rubs her eyes with her hands. God sure makes all of us unique even from birth!

Good Friday, Easter and Friends

We had a very fun and friend filled Easter weekend. On Good Friday, our friends, the Cherry's, came over for dinnner. We enjoyed some BBQ chicken, cole slaw, and baked beans, along with some cross cupcakes. We had a great time of fellowship, and the children had fun playing outside and in Karis' room. Saturday we just hung out together as a family. Sunday after church, you can check out Justin's sermon on our church website http://www.christbc.com/ along with me this week since I served in the nursery during church this week. After church, we headed over to the Brook's house for lunch and fellowship.

Family picture in front of the Brook's house.


Karis pointing to the cross cake that I made and decorated for desert. She was reenacting how she licked the icing the day before after I was finished icing the cake!

Full view of the cake, it was almost gone after lunch.

Our Easter was good spent with friends. We also got to spend some time with Lori's sister, her husband and their new baby boy. It was fun to chat and have a leisurely lunch with our friends. It is always good to celebrate the death of our Savior with like minded friends.

Pondering the Cross

I have been reading all the gospel accounts of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ the last two days. I was again awed and reminded of my own sin, that I too would have been one of the ones mocking our Lord along with the crowd. Christ still died for those who mocked and reviled Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior! As I was trying to think of what to say about the cross, one song came to mind. Here are the words of a song that clearly, powerfully, and wonderfully explain the cross.

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day:

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten, then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath-

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin.

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowing Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life;

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suffering I am free.

Death is crushed to death;

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Son of God-slain for us.

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Spring Baskets and Egg Hunt

On Saturday, we had our spring baskets and egg hunt day. Justin made waffles for breakfast and we celebrated the beginning of spring by getting a basket full of fun stuff and having an egg hunt. I got this idea from Carolyn Mahaney (she and her daughters have the girltalkblog and I have read all her books). We wanted our children to still be able to have an egg hunt and get a fun basket every year, but we didn't want it to interfere or be at all connected with our Savior's death and glorious resurrection. For us, Easter is about Christ and Him alone, and we didn't want anything to distract us or our children from that. So, the spring basket and egg hunt seemed like such a great idea. Here are a few pictures of our fun time!

Karis is looking at her new stickers. By her basket was a book, Go Dog Go, for Noah. Karis really enjoyed reading it to him once I read it to her a few times. (There are only a few words on each page.)

Karis also got a BOZ puzzle. She is really into puzzles these days!

Noah was very excited about his new book, especially when Karis read it to him!

Karis is hunting her eggs in the front yard.

"Where are the rest of the eggs?"

We had a very fun day, Karis and I did her new puzzle about 5 times. I love spring time, I can't wait to see all the flowers blooming. It reminds me of how God's grace that continues to give to His children despite our sinfulness. After a cold winter (which has not really been the case this year), God reminds us that all things become new again like when we trust in Christ. We pray you have a wonderful Christ filled Easter!

Rolling Over and Loving Sister!

I would have to say that Karis and Noah look a lot alike! Noah is growing so fast, he is exactly 3 months old today. The time really has flown by! On Saturday morning, Justin and I awoke to a very loud crying Noah almost an hour before he usually gets up. I decided after a few minutes to go into his room and make sure he was okay (usually he goes back to sleep for another hour when he stirs that early) and to my surprise, he was turned over on his back! We decided to give him some belly time Sunday afternoon, and in about 5 minutes he turned himself over. This is a great milestone, except when he wakes himself up and won't go back to sleep. I was thinking it was a little early for this but who am I to say, Noah has a mind of his own.
Karis is really enjoying Noah now that he is starting to play with some of his toys. He loves watching her and is mesmerized by whatever she is doing around him. Most of the time if he is upset all Karis has to do is go and smile at him and he will stop crying. It is nice to have someone else to entertain him. I am so blessed to have these two wonderful children. God is showing me everyday new things about myself and His grace towards me and my family.

We haven't been up to much these last two weeks, just living one day at a time. I did take Noah to the doctor on Friday, and he is growing like a weed and very healthy. It was supposed to be his two month check up, but he is almost three months (12 weeks last Monday). He weighed 12 lbs and 12 ounces. He has grown 2 inches and is doing very well. Karis finally rode her bike this last week with Justin's help. She did pretty good for the first time.
Here are a few pictures of our growing boy and Karis riding her bike.

Noah's hair sticking straight up!

Noah laughing at his sister. It is so neat to see how much he adores Karis. If he is unhappy or crying, all Karis has to do is walk over and talk to him and he starts smiling again. He watches her all the time. What a special bond God is giving them. Of course, Karis doesn't always want to talk to him or help me with him. She keeps saying, "a few more days and then Noah can play with me." I have tried to explain to her that it will be a few more months until she can play with him, big difference!

Karis riding her bike with Justin holding on. I'm not sure what Calvin is doing, he always seems to be in pictures that we take outside.

I pray everyone is having a good week. God is giving me strength and patience this week, and I am so thankful for the cross.

Dentist and Random Things

Karis and I went to the dentist on Monday. I went to get my teeth cleaned, and Karis went for the first time to let the dentist count and clean her teeth. For a few weeks before going to the dentist, we read "The Bernstein Bears Go to the Dentist." She was very excited about it, but I think she was more excited about getting a balloon afterwards. She was very interested in watching the dental hygienist clean my teeth. It was funny to watch her watching and asking what the tools were. She was then a Big girl and sat on me in the big chair so the dentist could look at her teeth. I was very proud of her. Justin got her a balloon for being so good, and she is still playing with it. Who knew balloons would be such a hit!
Noah is going for his 2 month check up on Friday. He will get his first set of shots! We are still figuring out his napping schedule but trusting the Lord through it all. Noah is really doing great at night time.
Just some random thoughts:
I am reading Deuteronomy in my quiet times right now. I am really learning a lot about God's provision for His people to stay pure of heart, mind, soul, and body. God is a very jealous God, and He desires His people to only worship Him, which He should. I have really been trying to purge my own heart and see what things I am allowing to get God's worship. Praise the Lord for His Word that continues to show me my sin and teach me about His forgiveness and love.
God is using my son to teach me to be more dependent on Him.
God is using Karis to show me my sin which is very humbling. Thank goodness that I am able to use my sins to show Karis the gospel by asking her forgiveness when I sin against her. Praise the Lord for Jesus, and His amazing gift of salvation.

Life

Not too much has been going on. We are settling into our new routine with Noah and trying to figure out why he only likes to take short cat naps during the day, only about 45 minutes to and hour between each feeding up until his 5:00 feeding and he will usually sleep from 6:30 until his 8:00 feeding. He is getting better about his afternoon nap, the one that he and Karis take together, kind of. It is hard to get them on the same napping schedule since usually Noah only sleeps about an hour, and Karis will sleep for two to three depending on how tired she is. I am really having to learn how to lean on Christ and allow Him to teach me through my children. Karis is so good with Noah, and I am so thankful for that. I pray things are going well for all of you. I will post some more pictures of Noah soon!

Valentine's Day Outfits

Karis and Noah received some special Valentine outfits from Aunt Courtney. She really does a great job being creative with her gifts! We had a nice dinner at home and then took Karis to get ice cream (yes, Noah went to, but he is a little small for ice cream). I am starting to feel like a bad mom sometimes because I always say, "Karis and I are going here or there," meaning that Noah is going too, I just forget to say his name. Old habits die hard I guess.
Justin bought me some very pretty pearl earrings from James Avery for Valentines day, and he got some very romantic glasses!! I love you Justin.

Noah smiling in his new outfit from Aunt Courtney!

Karis didn't want to take a picture, as you can tell by her expression. She is into the no picture faze right now, I don't know what I am going to do in a few weeks when I get her three year picture taken and a picture of both of them.

Here are both my sweet babies in their new outfits. Thanks Aunt Courtney, you did a great job. We love you!

Serving and Ruth

This last week God has been really good to us. Noah is now sleeping through the night. He gets his last bottle at 11:00 and usually wakes up sometime between 7 and 8 in the morning. My wonderful husband usually goes to bed about an hour before I do, so in the mornings he feeds Noah for me, except on Sundays of course. I am so blessed to have such a serving husband. He know that just a few more minutes of sleep help me. Thank you Justin for serving me in this way. I love you.
Justin just completed his sermon series on Ruth yesterday. I didn't get to hear the sermon yesterday because I was serving in the nursery, but the book of Ruth has really been eye opening for me. Despite all the odds, Ruth stayed loyal to Naomi and God. Naomi got to see Romans 8:28 played out in her own life. His sermons are on our church website www.christbc.com, and I highly recommend that you listen to them. They will change your thought process when life gets hard and remind you that God "does work all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose." We just have to remember that His good is not always our good.

Sweet Noah!

Noah is 8 weeks old today, on Sunday he will be exactly two months. I wonder where the time has gone, but I am so thankful to have him start to interact a little with me. He smiles when he hears me talk and his expressions are so cute. He is doing good sleeping at night, and Karis and I are having fun with him. He is staying awake a lot more during the day and starting to coo and "talk." What a fun time this is with our sweet Noah!

Noah smiling at Mommy!

Karis' 3rd Birthday!

This was the first year that Karis was really excited about her birthday. We made a big deal about it, and she loved every minute of it. Birthdays in my family were always very special, and I desire that for my children. In Justin's family, they had what is called a "you are special" plate that they ate off of on their birthday or any other special day. We have made that a tradition in our family and this was the first year Karis was old enough to eat on the very old, breakable plate.

Justin got up and made pancakes and bacon, Karis' request. She ate off the "special plate." We then opened her gifts from Justin's family and played with new things until lunch time. At lunch, we took Karis to Pizza Inn, she likes to eat there because they have a train that runs along a track there while you eat. We had no objections because we can always eat pizza, plus Karis eats for free! After lunch she got to watch a movie in her room on the portable DVD player. That was a very special treat. We were going to take her and her friend Hannah to see "The Pirates who don't do anything" a veggie tale movie, but it wasn't playing at our theater anymore. So the next day, Hannah came over and the girls watched "Lady and the Tramp." Karis picked out the movie at the movie store. They ate popcorn and gummy bears and drank lemonade in big girl cups with silly straws! It was a lot of fun. We had a small get together with a few of our friends on Saturday. I made her a McDuff, or Calvin cake. Calvin is our dog.

Karis' Calvin cake.

She was very proud of her cake as you can see!

It took her a few tries to blow out her candles. The cake was good. I used a different icing, and it tasted much better.

Karis got a bicycle for her birthday, but she won't ride it right now because she doesn't want to wear her helmet. She picked out a red one, red seems to be her favorite color now!

Happy 3rd Birthday Karis Ann!

I cannot believe that you are 3 years old today. Where does the time go? I can still remember holding you for the first time in the hospital wondering if I could ever love you anymore than I did right then. The answer is yes, as every day goes by I love you more! You are such a miracle and blessing to us from our Gracious and loving God! I cannot imagine life without your sweet smile, helping hand, never-ending chatter, messy table eating, and hugs. You give me great joy everyday as I watch you grow and get to teach you of our precious Savior! I love you Karis Ann and cannot wait to see what God has in store for my precious, sweet daughter. Look at how much you have changed in just three years!

Can you tell the difference?

Here is a little comparison between Karis and Noah. I think they look a lot alike. What do you think? Of course you can tell which one is which because of the colors they are wearing, but I still think they look very much the same. Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law, the fish aquarium swing has been a hit with both of our children! It is always funny how babies lean their heads to one side. Karis and Noah are opposites in this respect.

New Normal

Noah is 6 weeks old today. Time really has flown by, and life is getting back to our new "normal." I am not really sure what normal is anymore, but I am able to function on a few more hours of sleep as Noah is getting into a routine. He has been sleeping between 5-6 hours at night now and then waking up in the morning around 7:30. God is good, and I am so thankful that He has kept me well during this time. I am also thankful for the "Baby Wise" book that was recommended to me. It has really helped me with Noah, and he is thriving. I am enjoying being a mother of two.
Karis' three year birthday is Thursday, Jan. 24. Where does the time go? By her request, I am going to make her a "Calvin" cake, that is a cake that has our dog on it. (He is a Westie). We will see how this turns out.
God continues to bring visitors to our church. Justin and the other elders are holding a new members class on Sat. There are supposed to be about 12 people there. This is really exciting for our church. Every week, I am challenged by the preaching and opening of God's Word. What a blessing to be in a church where God's Word is proclaimed and lived out by its leaders and members.
We just bought a web cam and so did my parents. I can't wait to talk to them and be able to see their faces. I know that Karis will really enjoy seeing them too. When I tried to explain to her that we would be able to see my parents when we talk to them on the computer, she said, "I will just wait til they come visit me." Only a child would be so self-centered. Actually, I think at times we are all that way, we just don't voice it. (I know I am, leave it to our children to help point out our sin). She thinks that my parents only come to see her! How funny!
I know this was some random thoughts, but I just wanted to let you all know what has been going on.

Random Pictures

I have had requests for more pictures of Noah, so I thought that I would just post some random pictures from the last few weeks. Noah is doing pretty well for a 5 week old. We are slowly working out a feeding, eating, and napping schedule. He is doing better at night time, and God continues to give me strength each day! I hope you enjoy these random pictures!

Noah and Karis watching BOZ!

Courtney made Noah a beautiful frog wreath to hang on the door when he was born. We hung it on his door at home for awhile.

My dad holding Noah when they visited. He was such a good help to my mom when she got up to feed Noah. My dad really enjoyed holding his grandson, his first and only one so far!

My mom, Noah, and me on Christmas eve.

Noah sitting in his bouncy seat staring off into space.

Noah sleeping, isn't he sweet!

Karis is telling Noah, "It is okay, brother." When he cries in his bed, she always wants to go comfort him, what a sweet sister! She probably just wants him to be quiet!

Christmas 2007

This year, Christmas was very different. We didn't go to Texas to visit our families, but my parents came to visit us. (This probably had something to do with Noah only being 2 weeks old at Christmas!) We had a wonderful time starting our family traditions and being with my family. We opened up all our presents from Justin's family and my family on Christmas Eve so that we could make Christmas day all about Jesus! Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve!

My mom, dad, and Noah.

Karis, Justin, me, and Noah, now a family of four!

Karis had a great time opening all her gifts this year, and she had a lot to open. She got very excited about each one. Here she is opening a coloring book, stickers, and a stamp set from Aunt Courtney! She really likes Curious George!

Karis is opening one of her many presents from Mamou and Papou, Justin's grandparents.

This was probably Karis' favorite present, at least for a few days. She cut and cut the food over and over. Thank you Mamou and Papou!

Noah and Karis in their matching Christmas pajamas! Noah isn't so sure about this!

Justin holding his two children, matching very nicely in his red shirt!!

We were very blessed this year on Christmas. Karis has really enjoyed playing with all her toys, especially cutting the food, playing with her play cell phone from PopPop and Grammie, playing with her scarf, and all her other wonderful presents. Thank you all for your gifts and love. We are sorry that we didn't get to come and see you, but we will see you soon!

Fun with Aunt Courtney!

We were so blessed to have Justin's sister, Courtney, come and take care of Karis for us when we went to the hospital to have Noah. Karis was so excited to see her and had a great time hanging out with her "Aunt Courtney." Here is are some pictures that tell of all their fun!

Karis was still all about the leaves when Aunt Courtney came, so they played in the leaves some more on Saturday.

Karis went to wake up Aunt Courtney after her nap.

Courtney and Karis are putting together a foam train for Christmas. Karis really enjoyed this project and has been playing with it ever since.

While we were in the hospital, Courtney did a lot of fun things with Karis, like have her paint a cross that you put in the window. She did a good job!

They made reindeer cookies and brought us some at the hospital.

Karis liked playing make up with Courtney! She likes to pretend that she is putting it on!

When Courtney and Karis came to the hospital to visit, Karis wore her BIG SISTER shirt that was way too big. They had a play ground at the hospital and Justin and Courtney took her to play for awhile after she visited me.

Karis got to watch her own zoo come to life in foam animals in the water. She is still playing with those animals now.

Courtney, thank you for coming and taking care of our precious Karis. I know that she had a wonderful time with you. You spoiled her and made her feel very special during this huge change in her life, not being the only child. You were a very big help around the house and cooking dinner. The chicken fried steak was so yummy! We are blessed to have you in our lives. We love you!