Tucker's Quote of the Day...

Tucker: "Mommy can you play with me."

Me: "Yes, but first I'm gonna get some coffee, make breakfast, and do the laundry."

Tucker: "Okay, but when you're done playing those mommy-games can you play with me?"

Another First for my First Baby

This week we experienced a first with Tucker that I hadn't been expecting to come so soon. On Saturday afternoon my doorbell rang, and on the other side stood our little neighbor. He wanted to know if Tucker could play.

That was it. A little boy on the other side of my front door ringing my bell wanting to know if my precious baby boy could play. I was caught completely off guard. "Can Tucker play?" No he can't play--he's not big enough to play. Wait? Is he? Are we here already? I could hardly believe how much this struck me. I love my Bear so much. He's my baby regardless of what the calendar says. I'm a mommy because he came into this world four short years ago. Can he come play? No! He's mine. Am I ready to share him like this? I should still have a little more time of just scheduled play dates, more "mommy and me" type activities, right? "Can Tucker play?" Well I don't know. I feel like I'm not ready to give him wings yet; the roots seem too shallow in the soil. (In the end, I didn't let him go, but I did invite the neighbor in to play with us.)

My precious Tucker is four-years-old. He's not a baby any more, and his great adventure is just getting started. If letting him go play is this difficult for me, I can only imagine what future firsts will feel like.

Brother and Sister

Just caught a glimpse of what Saturday mornings will probably look like in the future...

God is Bigger

A few months ago Tucker had his eye on this bracelet that Patrick has. It's kinda like those "LiveStrong" Lance Armstrong bracelets, but this one is white and it glows in the dark. Patrick gave it to Tucker one night when he was scared of a bad dream, and Patrick told him it would help him not have any more dreams. (Yes, I completely disagreed with this tactic, but the reasoning just eluded my husband...). Anyway, since then Tucker has had to have this bracelet on every night at bedtime, and tonight was no different. What was different, however, was what Patrick encountered later this evening when he went to check on Bear.

Tucker had gotten out of his bed and was putting the bracelet on the dresser beside his light. Patrick said, "Are you not going to wear that tonight?" And brave Tucker answered, "No Daddy. I don't need it anymore. God is with me." Then he folded his little hands and said, "I love you, God."

I guess hearing the story of Daniel and the Lions Den a million times lately has set in the message that God is always with us, and he's bigger than any harm we can imagine! Thank You, Lord, for my sweet boy!

Time with Presley, Time with Tucker

So here's little Presley Girl hanging out for the first time in her exersaucer. She didn't last very long, but she likes it! She was very curious about the flowers and the teapot that decorated her table. :o) I saw this exersaucer at WalMart when I was about six or seven months pregnant, and I just thought it was too cute! I couldn't wait to see my Baby Girl in it. We had a precious one for Tucker that our sweet friends Jamie and Angie bought him that was a race car. (I'm trying to find those photos and upload them.) I absolutely loved it for Bear, but I couldn't wait to get a pink one for our daughter, and oh is it cute!

So anyway, yesterday I decided that I would take Tucker on a "date" to our pool and let Daddy stay home with Sissy. Can I just tell you how much I adore my son? He is growing to be such a sweet, precious little boy. I know he has his moments, but overall he is such a good kid! We had so much fun at the pool, and Tucker is just so outgoing. My little heart just melts at how kind he is to other kids, and how he declares all of them to be "his friends". I watched him twice walk up to other little boys and say, "What's your name? Hi, I'm Tucker." Of course, my mommy heart holds it's breath each time, saying a little prayer that the other kid will be nice back to him, and his sweet feelings will be spared. Now that he's four I so wish the whole world was kind! Now that he has to interact with other kids, I wish feelings would never get hurt.

Heavenly Father,

I praise you that Tucker and Presley are fearfully and wonderfully made. I thank you for stitching them lovingly together while I carried each of them. Thank You for loving them so much You know the number of hairs on each of their sweet heads and each of their days before they came to be. Lord Jesus, teach Tucker and Presley to be loving and compassionate to all they meet, being Your eyes, hands, and heart here on Earth. May that find all the love they need in You alone.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

First Pool Trip

Yesterday we took Tucker and Presley to the pool for Presley's first swim. She really seemed to like the water. Patrick and I took turns just holding her and she never once complained. She loves the outdoors and just soaked in all the excitement around her. (Thanks to Miss Keelie for buying this cute suit and hat for Presley Girl! I got it at my shower and have literally been waiting for months to see my little girl in it! So sassy!)

Tucker was so excited we were going swimming. "That means summer is here," he happily declared. He was so excited when we got to the neighborhood pool. It really is quite cute with a pirate/lagoon type theme. He's quite the little fish...too bad I still haven't gotten him swim lessons! (He starts next week.) So I'm thinking this summer (and probably next) will probably be a little hectic for Patrick and I when it comes to pool time...definately requires man-on-man defense!

(As I'm posting this I'm realizing what a bad mom I've become...ever since Presley came along I've been forgetting to take pictures of just Tucker! Poor Bear!)

Fun in the Sun!

We had a great play date at our sweet friends The Roseberry's house today. Stacy and Jed just completely overhauled their backyard, and today Tucker enjoyed playing with his friends in their new sandbox (even though sandboxes make me cringe!) and running through the sprinklers. The weather was perfect, the company even better, and the memories made priceless. Bring on the summer!

Twelve Weeks Old

It's been twelve weeks since we first met our Presley Dallas, and let me tell you she has completely stolen our hearts! Each day is better than the last. She's doing better on her sleep, though she's not completely sleeping through the night. She gets to bed at about 7:30 and sleeps until between 2 -4. Then she's back to sleep until about 8:00 or so. One night, however, she slept a full twelve hours!! 7:30 - 7:30...it was lovely!!! So I know she'll be sleeping through the night soon. She's dropped her third nap so she's now taking two naps, each about 2 - 4 hours long. Sometimes her morning nap is not as long, but she always makes up for it!

Tucker is still enamored by his little sister. He rushes in to see her each time she wakes up, and he covers her in sugars! He's just so good with her. His favorite thing to do is snuggle in his bed with her.

Presley and I enjoy girl time on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Tucker is at school. She helps me around the house and sometimes we go shopping. Taking Tucker and Presley out together is still a little stressful for me, but I'm getting better. :o) Patrick is working so many hours right now (it's just getting to be busy season at the golf course) so we do a lot without him. When he is home it makes such a difference! Man-to-man defense is so much easier ;o)

I'm just loving every minute with my sweet girl, and even though it's the hardest job ever, being a mom is such a huge blessing. Lucky me!

Jon and Kate Plus Frustration!

Okay, so I usually don't blog about TV shows, but I promise I can tie this back into our lives! Tonight's premiere episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8 was so hard to watch! Here are strong believers walking dangerously near the D-I-V-O-R-C-E path. Their book, Multiple Blessings came out only in December and the whole thing is their testimony to God's faithfulness to them, and how He has overcome their hardships and blessed them with everything that they have in their lives. And suddenly now He's not big enough to fix this bump in the road?

It made me remember no matter how strong our faith we'll always be tested and tempted this side of heaven. I know we've been. I'm in total recognition that this could be Patrick and me at any moment if we're not careful. Here is this husband and wife, (who not that long ago were very happy), sitting in different rooms, hardly able to be together for five minutes, talking about possible divorce. It made me remember that we need to be vigilantly praying over our marriage. It always stuns me how quickly we can fall into a pit of "unhappiness." We can totally slip at any minute. It amazes me at how swiftly the enemy can beat us down and cause us to forget all that God has done for us or that He has a plan for us. And how quickly our flesh wants to throw in the towel! A season or two of unhappiness is just a blip on the radar of eternity, but oh, how it seems like there's no end in sight and no making it better when you're in the middle of it. Believe you me, I know all this is true!

So I'm staring at this woman going, you're going to regret this. Don't let this happen. Getting a divorce is not the answer. They keep saying how they do everything for their kids, and I'm thinking, what could be better for your kids than fixing your marriage? The other side will be so much better and stronger.

Anyway, as I was watching tonight's show I've been convicted of the following...
--That too often counting our difficulties seems easier than counting our blessings

--That God calls me to respect my husband, especially around others

--That every marriage is going to experience bumps in the road, but the patchwork makes them stronger

--That marital problems are never solely one spouse's fault, no matter how much we want to think we're innocent

--That if we are in covenant with our spouse through Jesus, we can't walk away from that commitment

--That the world says if you're unhappy, it's not right; but God says, if you're unhappy, I can make it right

--That having a solid marriage is the best thing I can do for my kids

I'm have to admit to you that I am praying for this couple and family, and I am hoping that they can use their nationally televised show to say "we can only attest the saving of our marriage to Jesus Christ." What a victory that will be!

Heavenly Father,
I thank you today for my unbelievable husband. I thank you for having him in mind for me even when you created the world. Father, cover me in the blood that covers a multitude of sins and love me through Patrick. Let us genuinely delight in honoring each other. Let me see Patrick as You see him, value him as You value him, and love him through me. When times are tough, be our Rock and fortress; in good times, be the center of our joy. Thank you for the gifts of Tucker and Presley. Help us to build up our marriage with Christ at the center so that we can model to our children what a godly husband and godly wife should look like. May our marriage be a blessing to you.

In Jesus' name,
Amen

Play Time of Epic Proportions

Today Tucker and I were playing in the backyard when he decided he wanted to play Moses and The King. (Moe and the Big Exit is his favorite VeggieTales right now.) :o)

So Tucker told me he would be Moses, I was Pharoh, his dump trucks became the Isrealites, and a weed became the Burning Bush! Before I knew it, the weed was telling Tucker to tell Mommy that God told him to let the dump trucks go! But no, I said, I will not let your people go. Let my people go! No, said mommy. Let my people go! No, said Mommy. Finally, God sent all of the first born "Iptyian" boys "up the river." (Did God really do that, Mommy? Yes, sweet boy.) Finally, Mommy let the dump trucks go. Unfortunately, Tucker did not want to cross the Red Sea (the backyard) so he just let the dump trucks go.

I think this was my favorite telling of this bible story!

I'm Getting Old...

For those of you who don't know, I am just a couple of months shy of my 30th birthday. (I know, I know, I can't believe it either! ha) Honestly this doesn't really bother me at all, but for the first time today I felt like I was getting old, and I have to blame it on Beverly Hills, 90210.

I sat down to nurse Presley Girl today and turned on a rerun of one of my favorite shows. Oh, how I used to love this show. It was in middle school that my devotion to this brew began, and my sister and I used to actually tape the episodes on our Beta (yeah baby!) and watch them over and over again throughout the week, analyzing every line, until we could wait no more. And then, thank you Aaron Spelling, another spellbinding episode would come on just as promised! Oh how things were hot at The Beverly Hills Beach Club! Well today was a good one too. Way before "The Peach Pit" became "The Peach Pit After Dark" or Brandon and Steve tried to run "The Beverly Beat". No way, Jose, this one was from the early days, where David Silver pumped up the jam live from West Beverly Hills High.

In today's episode, we found our favorite West Beverly juniors in a tizzy over the impending SATs. Poor AHN-drea was in such a pickle to get an edge on the test that she begged, of all others, Mullet-tastic Steve Sanders, son of the former star of "The Hartley House", to share his notes from an exclusive test prep class and study with her! Desperate she must have been, because after their study session, they mugged down in classic Steve Sanders "I8A4RE"-license-plate-bearing style. Oy vey!

Earlier that day Brenda, Kelly, and Donna were being silly and responsible at the same time--they decided to check their breasts for cancerous lumps during their afternoon of fun. Well, low and behold, 16-year-old Brenda found a small lump in her breast. (Don't tell Dad!)

Why, besides the obvious, did this make me feel old? It wasn't the sentimental feelings stirred up just at the sight of my favorite fraternal twin brother and sister act. No, it was all because of Cindy Walsh. Yes, today for the first time, instead of feeling an emotional connection to the highly-dramatic-younger-twin-by-four-minutes Brenda, I felt it only for faithful caregiver Cindy. Yes, I actually teared up when Cindy caught a tender moment between her son and daughter. And when Brenda got the call that she would be all right, it was Cindy Walsh's reaction of relieved mother that actually made me shed a tear. I realized that where I used to get mushy over the fact that Dylan skipped a day of most righteous surfing to search five hospitals to bring his beloved a bouquet of get well flowers (she didn't even tell him what hospital she'd be at!), I now got mushy instead at the plight of poor Cindy Walsh and her "is-my-daughter-going-to-be-okay" dilemma.

Is this what 30 is going to be like? Oy vey, indeed!

Family Fridays

In the last six or so weeks we've started having lunch every Friday with Patrick at the club. It's quickly become something we really look forward to. I just wish I had had my camera about five minutes before we took this picture, because Patrick had just turned his back for a minute when Tucker decided to drop his drawers and pee right there on the driving range! Thank goodness it was a slow day!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

So today I went to pick Tucker up from the sitter's house and Tucker was playing with a little doll. (I know, Patrick, but it's fine!) Melinda said he had been taking care of the doll, and that she could tell he had been watching me take care of Presley because he had put the dolly on it's tummy and was saying "Tummy Time! Tummy Time Baby!" What was just lovely, though, was when he said, "Oh he's crying. I have to feed him." and he proceeded to lift up his shirt and "feed" the baby! Nice :o)

That's What I Love About Sundays...

I've said it a thousand times before...Sundays are my favorite day of the week. They mean that Patrick is home, and we have a true family day. It usually starts with lounging in our jammies and then pancakes or kolaches . Then it's on to see our church family (or at least it will be again when the new church plant starts up in the fall!) and we almost always end up at the mall for lunch and the good ol' Barnes and Noble "Thomas" table. (You know...the same one we have at home, only somehow the B&N one is so much better!) We usually skip naptime for Tucker since it's the only day Daddy is home all day, which means we do dinner, bath, and bed all before 7:00. Then Patrick and I settle in with Baby Girl and watch some good Sunday night TV. I wish every day could be Sundays!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Eight Weeks Old

Today our Presley Girl is eight weeks old, and I can honestly say I have savored every moment with her and with our new family. I can't believe how much babies really change so dramatically day-by-day in the beginning. When I posted "Four Great Weeks" Presley pretty much slept, pooped, and ate, and four weeks later, she's doing so much more.

Presley is now a whopping twelve pounds, which I can't believe. She is stretching out length wise as well and I've noticed that her sleepers are fitting her exactly right. She'll be out of them soon enough! For as much as we play dress up there are still so many clothes to be worn! I'll have to start changing her more often during the days :o)

In the last four weeks Presley has started staying awake more and has put herself on a pretty natural schedule--eat, wake, sleep. She loves her swing, and I must admit I'm committing the cardinal sin of letting her take all her naps in it! She'll sleep anywhere from two to four hours in that thing, as opposed to the hour/hour-and-a-half in the bassinet. Speaking of the bassinet, Presley has been sleeping in her bassinet in her own "room" for the past four weeks...that would be our closet! You may think we're crazy, but it's the perfect solution for tired parents that want their babies close but don't want to hear all their little noises at night!

In the past four weeks Presley has started cooing, which is probably the most precious sound in the world! She's also started really focusing on people's faces, and she loves to look at her Daddy and her Poppy especially. She's also smiling, and Patrick can make her beam like no one else! I almost never get a smile, which of course is a mother's curse. Right now I'm here every moment of every day with her, meeting all her needs, and she never smiles at me. Patrick, on the other hand, is only home on Sundays and late evenings, and the very sound of his voice when he enters the house can make her smile!

In the past four weeks we've also seen a brand new Big Brother get sweeter by the day. Anytime Tucker hears Presley crying he shows genuine compassion and concern. He'll find her and say "Don't cry Presley Girl, Big Brother's here." I am so proud that he so easily has slipped into his new role. When my parents watched both of the kids for the first time, Tucker was a true helper. And when it's just the three of us at home I can ask him to get me the Boppy or a burp cloth or a paci or whatever Presley needs and he'll bring it to me right away. He just loves to help. When Presley gets upset, Tucker will smile and say to me, "Mommy, what are we going to do with Presley Girl?!" He also loves to say "Baby Girl, don't you go drivin' that Fuss Bus!" when he's trying to calm her down (he cracks himself up!) He's also a champ at giving her her pacifier in the car when she's crying, which is most pleasing to Mommy and Daddy! I'm so glad God timed the two of them four years apart. For as much as I wouldn't have planned it that way myself, now I wouldn't have it any other way!

Junior Worship Leader

This year I was lucky enough to be asked to lead worship at our church's Women's Retreat. It was an incredible experience! It was my first time to lead worship all alone, but I wasn't exactly all alone...Presley would be born just fourteen days later!

That weekend I felt her kicking and moving during our worship times and I loved that she was there with me. It made the experience just priceless. What I love even more is, now that she's here, when she's really fussy and upset she immediately stops crying when I sing to her. "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" and "How Great Thou Art" are favorites. :o) How cool is that? How great is our God!

I Confess...

I have to let you in on a secret--God makes me laugh. Especially when He's dealing with me.

No sooner had I written my last post, "A Beautiful Life" than we had a pretty good financial crisis. Or we are now having one anyway. It got me really frustrated. And annoyed. I had my time to panic and then be angry. I started to ask the why's and how's. Why are we destined to wander this wilderness again, and how are things going to work out this time. For 24 hours I had a good pity party. How quickly I went from "thanks for the beautiful life" to "seriously could this be easier please?"

The next morning I spent quietly talking to the Lord (or as best as I could with a four-year-old and a newborn!) and He seemed to say, "Valerie, chill out! We've done this before. Trust me." And I'm sure He then said to Himself, "Valerie, you schmuck!" Believe! Trust! Why are these things so naturally hard for me? Unless things are going well, I am a natural panic-er.

Then, to really put the sting in conviction, it just so happend that that day and the days to come on Facebook, several friends "status updates" revealed much bigger pains than mine. Two friends from high school are battling cancer, two friends from work had lost beloved friends unexpectedly, and our friends from church are still trying to recover from a freak accident that has left the husband in the hospital for over a month. Saying "well at least we have our health" has never felt more true.

So I just felt compelled to confess all this here to all the world, or at least the three people who read my blog. :o) I confess that I am self-centered and a natural worrier. I confess that I can go from "A Beautiful Life" to "Holy Crap" in less than 24-hours. I confess that without Jesus I am a total mess.

And, if you are reading my blog, feel free to keep me accountable to my resolve to believe and trust when I start to whine. (Come on, we all know I will!) :o)

A Beautiful Life

It's been five-and-a-half weeks since our family was completed with Miss Presley's arrival. In such a short amount of time, I can't imagine our lives without her. Patrick and I spent my whole pregnancy wondering if we would like the change in our lives, if four would be as great to us as three had been. It's even better than we could have imagined.

In these days around our nation times are tough. The economy is struggling, families are struggling, people are struggling. Yet when I think about our little life right now, I realize just how blessed we are. Sure, things could be easier, but truly my dreams have come true. I have a husband that is absolutely my best friend. There's nothing I can't tell him, and in troubled times there's no one else I would want by my side. And my children...oh my children! What a treasure they are. I can't believe I have a boy AND a girl! Honestly, that is a huge God-thing to me. It's like, it wasn't enough for Him to bless me with a family, it had to be the family I always wanted! A loving husband, a little boy and a precious girl.

I am humbled by God's desire to give me, chief of sinners, a beautiful life. I'm listening to a song right now that speaks my only response to Him:

"With my hands lifted high

With all my heart, I give you my life

Take every part of me

And use me as You please

Here's my life."

A Word from the Lord...

On Saturday I decided it was time to put my new "mother of two" status to the test and take the kids out on my own. I had planned on taking Tucker and Presley to Mardel so Tucker could play with the trains and then joining Patrick for dinner.

After careful planning and preparation (you know you have to plan and prepare for these things moms!) I had things timed out perfectly. Tucker would get up from his nap, I would nurse Presley, then pack everyone up and be on our way. Well of course that didn't happen. Tucker was moving slow as molasses, Presley was wailing, he wasn't dressed, her bag wasn't packed and I was getting very frustrated. Unfortunately my frustrations were being unpacked on my four-year-old.

When we finally got in the car and on our way, I turned and apologized to Tucker for being grouchy with him. He said, "It's okay Mama, I forgive you." Well that melted my heart, and then he followed up with, "Mama...happiness is of the Lord."

Ouch. The sting of conviction...from a four-year-old! The Lord certainly speaks!

Four Great Weeks

Today Presley is four weeks old. I can't believe it. Patrick has declared her to be our last child, (but check in with us in about three or four years...I just may have my way yet!), and because of this I am trying to drink in every precious moment.

I love her baby noises and sounds. I love holding her and singing to her and talking to her. I adore watching Tucker with her. (I don't, however, love that she eats every two hours, regardless of day or night, but the positives far outweigh the negatives!) But even when we are on our ump-teenth feeding of the day, I still love having her close to me and starting a bond that will last forever.

Patrick and I both agree that she has changed so much from when she was born. Now that she's closer eight pounds her little frame has filled out a lot. She definately has a distinct personality, and while she's not a big crier she certainly has a way of letting you know she's not having it! Her sounds, her frame, her face...she's so distinctly Presley.

I'm growing to love her more and more each day, something I wasn't sure was going to happen. Four short weeks ago I couldn't fathom loving another child the way I love Tucker, and today I can't fathom loving her any other way.

I have no idea what the future holds for Presley and I, but one thing I do know...she will be loved.