That is what you get....

This is what you get when your brother is almost 24lbs and 11 months old. Baby confusion. When you want to still hold and love on him like he is a baby. You get awkward attempts at holding him and often enough someone ends up crying. Whether it is Carter crying because he is falling off, uncomfortable, or Kate starts to shove him off because he is getting heavy or Kate crying usually because she can't (or he won't let her) snuggle him like a real baby.

Kate asks me more now than she ever did when he was at a more practical age to hold Carter. She still says "Can I hold the baby?" BABY! What baby? All I see is a big baby boy trying to keep up with his sister. And at 24 lbs. he is doing a good job. But I just shrug my shoulders and say "Sure you can try but remember last time...."

She has mastered a few holds. Notice this one she manages to hold him down with her arm wrapped around his head. This way he CAN'T get up. She has accepted that instead of holding him like a real little baby she can just hold his head and not all of him. That is a whole lot of boy for one little girl.

We now however have settled for a relaxing laying hold. He just lays across her and I prop him up. This way he isn't too heavy for her and he's comfortable. Even still this is a compromise for Carter. He just doesn't like it. Poor Kate. She just going to have to settle for a fun little brother who adores all she does and loves to follow her around everywhere. Who will do and play almost anything with her that he can.

Just love 'em!

Create

This video is old, but every time I watch it I am moved. It runs so deep and touches on so many levels.

Click on Create

I have to be honest. Lately my kids have been breaking my heart. They are growing up so fast I don't feel like I can keep up with them.

Being back home is nice. We are getting back into the swing of things. Our days are now filled with joy school, teething, breathing treatments (still), Daddy time, tea parties, crawling practice (with a little bit of walking/standing), and enjoying the fall weather.

We are having some good days and some very apparent bad days but we love spending time together especially when dad is around. He is the center of our universe and nothing is complete until he walks in the door. We are so glad we have him!

What can I say?....

Yesterday Kate and Carter were playing together. Carter tried to sneak away Kate's toys as he laid on the ground while she played. She repeatedly tried to tell him "No this is my toy" after a few tries I walked in the room to try to help out with the problem when upon my arrival I see Kate smack Carter upside the head. He didn't cry but she still had to go to time out because that is what happens when we hit. She sat there and I was near by when the following conversation took place with Kate and herself:

Kate #1: Why are you on time out?

Kate #2: Because I hit Carter.

Kate #1: DO WE HIT?

Kate #2: No we don't hit Carter even if he takes toys.

Kate #1: That's right. You need to apologize....

She sure gave herself a good talking to. This is almost exactly how our conversations go when ever she is put in time out. I guess I can start letting her take over the time outs. She is so precious. She is always surprising me with her whit and brightness. Three is such a fun age!

To Wear the Glove or Not to....That is the Qestion

It doesn't get much better than this. You can't find this sort of dedication in your average Joe. The worst (& Best!) part is she knows that. We miss you hun! Love You!

There are many ways to heal. Sometimes it takes good doctors who know how to perform certain maneuvers to save a life...thank heaven for those. Sometimes it takes just a very strategically placed band-aid with a little bit of neo-ointment that is always topped off with a kiss. Then there are other times when laughter and good, loving people around you is what you need to heal. When it seems like nothing else is working sometimes laughter and love can heal that tender spot that nothing else can reach.

Right now I feel like my eyes have been pried open and I have learned. Maybe sometimes I wished it wouldn't be so hard or painful to learn, but all good wisdom that we take in helps us for the better. Sometimes in life we learn through our own personal tragedy and sometimes we learn through others. I have seen so many wonderful women in my life suffer. Some I know well and some I only know through others, but my heart has felt close to them, and their suffering I have shared. Even if just a tiny morsel of it. I have stood in amazement at the capacity of good that abides in all of them and also the strength that has been available to them through our Heavenly Father. This life isn't easy but it is made easier by having good loving people around us. We are blessed with family to lean on in times of need. Luckily though if you are like me and don't come from a normal family dynamic or live thousands of miles away from them there are friends that we can adopt as family. Some of my closest friends have now become sisters to me. Not second or third sisters, but sisters.

I have learned over these past few months as I have watched these good women battle through it all that there are ups and downs. That every good person out there when faced with affliction falters. They have their down days and their ups. I've learned it isn't about being up all the time it is about when you fall down getting back up and sticking it out the best you can. Putting your shoulder back to the wheel and "pushing along". I don't mean to be preachy I simply mean to share something I believe in, because I know I have had times when I have felt my best wasn't good enough because it wasn't perfect....well that is okay because I know it never will be but better yet it doesn't have to be! I can just do my best...sigh...that bring relief.

Thanks to all those wonderful women who keep going even when faced with what seems like insurmountable obstacles that completely overwhelm you at times. I love you and think of you always. I am so thankful for your example, friendship, and love.