Cousin Sleepover!

I am majorly out-numbered, but aren't they so cute?!

You can't tell they have similar personalities, right? ;)

The First of Many

With three boys, we know we are going to have MANY trips to the doctor or emergency room. I had hoped it wouldn't start so early, but it was not to be. The boys went fishing this morning and soon after getting set up at the lake, Noah caught a big one...his finger! It was definitely not as bad as it could have been, but still not fun. We took him to his doctor to see if they could remove it or if we had to go to the ER. Thankfully, they were able to do it in the office. Noah was so brave! He cried a little when they gave him several lidocaine shots, but after that, he didn't fuss or squirm when they removed the hook! Both the doctors were amazed at how well he behaved and handled the ordeal! I'm so proud of my brave little man!
What do you think of the nickname Fish Bait? ;-)
And just because I want to show him when he's older, here's a pic of his "owie".

I can't leave you with just the bummer shot, so here's a pic of each of the boys...all smiles!

My Opinion of "Natural" Child Birth

Recently, I’ve been reading a slew of stories, articles, and friends’ comments on childbirth. Everyone appears to have a very strong stance on this topic. Many of my friends are strong supporters of “natural” births with some of them proclaiming home-births are the only way to do it.
If you’ve had your child/children naturally without any medication and/or at home without any “interventions”: that’s awesome.
Do you know what isn’t awesome? Alluding to or outright declaring that all births should be drug free and have no medical interventions.
God did not create all women the same. He did not make all women capable of having drug and intervention-free births. I for one am tired of having to justify my three C-sections. I am in labor for the last 3 months of my pregnancy: I don’t get to skip the curse of childbirth pain. And with each of by sons, it was never a lack of desire to have a natural birth. But in God’s sovereignty, He gave me a pelvis completely incapable of naturally birthing children.
God did however enable doctors to know how to safely deliver babies via surgery and thus saving the lives of both baby and mother. On a daily basis, I thank and praise the Lord that I live in the era I live in. A little over one hundred years ago, the mortality rate of a C-section was around 85%. With those odds, all three of my sons, along with myself, would be dead. The boys would have been strangled trying to come out and I would have died of blood loss and infection.
My point is this: Please, if you love your natural birth(s), share them freely but without condemning those of us who cannot have them. Do not dogmatically say all births need to be intervention free and/or at home. God has different plans for all of us. We, as humans, shouldn't contradict what God planned for each of us before time began.

Day Twenty-eight of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-eight of loving notes on Ryan.
On this last day of February, I want to just say that I love you, Ryan, with all my heart. In the last twenty-seven days, I've shared twenty-seven amazing qualities you possess. I know there are days that I take you for granted and am ungrateful for all that you do: I'm sorry for that. Please forgive me. God blessed me greatly when he gave you to me. I know we've had our share of disagreements and trials in the last few years, but we've also had countless triumphs and joys. I wouldn't want to be married to anyone but you!
Thank you for being you.
I love you now and forever!

Day Twenty-seven of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-seven of loving notes on Ryan.
I love how tech savvy you are! You always help me with coding things for the blog and teach me of "new" features in MS-Word that I wish I'd known before.
Thank you for all your help and guidance when it comes to the computer. Through your teaching, things go a lot faster for me!
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-six of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-six of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your hypochondria. You always think you have something "wrong" with you and have this worrisome expression. Then, when I tell you you're fine and nothing's wrong, your "relief face" is priceless!
Thank you for always coming to me for medical advice and affirmation that you are just fine!
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-five of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-five of loving notes on Ryan.
I love how excited you get when we go for a drive and count all the deer. You're so cute trying to make sure both the older boys see each deer.
Thank you for your enthusiasm while creating so many fun memories for the boys and me.
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-four of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-four of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your role as the spiritual head of our family. You take your role very seriously, which is exactly how God wants you to be. I love that I can read something in the Bible or hear something and come talk to you about it. I've learned many many things through you in the past few years.
Thank you for being my spiritual head. Thank you for pointing me to the Lord and helping me to apply His Word in my life.
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-three of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-three of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your little-kid side. You can find something funny in almost any situation. You never fail to laugh, even er...especially at yourself.
Thank you for teaching me that you can be an adult and still have fun like a little kid.
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-two of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-two of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your willingness to change. Sometimes it's overnight...sometimes it's over years. Like with cutting off your ponytail: you weren't ready to change until you started the job with Enwisen. Within a week, you went from not wanting to cut it EVER...to loving the fact that it was gone and you didn't have to spend so much time on it! You've changed over the years in such good ways. I could list several, but one that I am on a daily basis grateful for: you doing the dishes!
Thank you for being willing to change: I get to be the very blessed recipient!
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty-one of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty-one of loving notes on Ryan.
I love that you always call or Skype me when you're away on business.
Thank you for making time for us even when you're thousands of miles away.
I love you now and forever.

Day Twenty of February: the Month of Love

Day twenty of loving notes on Ryan.
I love how you never fail telling me you love me, that I'm beautiful, and very sexy to you.
Thank you for loving curvy me. Thank you for reminding me that I am made in God's image.
I love you now and forever.

Day Nineteen of February: the Month of Love

Day nineteen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your (sometimes) expanding culinary tastes. I think it's so fun that you now like zucchini, asparagus, fresh green beans, baked sweet potatoes, hamburger gravy, and salad! I look forward to introducing you to more delightful dishes!
Thank you for letting me fix you foods you didn't like and for always at least trying new foods!
I love you now and forever.

Day Eighteen of February: the Month of Love

Day eighteen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your gentle rebukes and correction. I know I usually don't immediately show it, but I do take to heart what you are telling me. I know I'm slow on the applying part, but you are always patient and willing to talk it through when I'm not mad.
Thank you for loving me enough to correct me when I am wrong.
I love you now and forever.

Day Seventeen of February: the Month of Love

Day seventeen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love how even-tempered you are. You always complement my "passion" on a topic/issue with calm words, grace, and logic.
Thank you for being the perfect man for me. Thank you for being the calming influence I need from time to time.
I love you now and forever.

Day Sixteen of February: the Month of Love

Day sixteen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your smile! It lights up your beautiful eyes and makes me smile at you in return!
Thank you for always smiling, even in the trials.
I love you now and forever.

Day Fifteen of February: the Month of Love

Day fifteen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your desire to show hospitality. You're the first one to invite someone over and love when we have a house full!
Thank you for helping me with serving others in our home!

Day Fourteen of February: the Month of Love

Day fourteen of loving notes on Ryan.
According to the world, today is supposed to be a day marked with candy, kisses, roses, and lots of romance. Instead of going with the world and falling for all the superficial "love" I want to take a moment to tell you I love you.
When we met in 2000, I fell "in love" with the idea of you. I was only 15 and you were 16. We had many years that the Lord would use to grow and mature us in Him and in general. We both had many lessons to learn.
From 2000 to 2005, I compared every guy I met to you. I didn't "mean" to do this: it just happened. I'll never forget when we started doing things together on a regular basis. I was so worried that you'd see right through me and know that I loved you. I was terrified that you might reject me. After asking you if you'd want to be more than friends, I'll never forget the surprise I felt when you said you'd compared all the girls you'd met to me. It was exhilarating! I thought that I'd never love you more than on that day. Man was I wrong.
I love you more and deeper now than I did back then. It's not the same I-just-got-engaged-today love, but it's a exponentially better. I love you more than I can say.
God has richly blessed me with you and I am SO thankful He designed us for each other. I know in the years to come, our love will be that much deeper and purer. I look forward to the future years with you, filled with our growing love for each other and the Lord.
Thank you for being you and for your love.
I love you now and forever.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Day Thirteen of February: the Month of Love

Day thirteen of loving notes on Ryan.
I love your desire to learn. Whether it's finishing your MBA program(which I'm super proud you did!) or talking to my dad about construction, you are constantly seeking more knowledge on different subjects.
Thank you for always wanting to learn more, and not wanting to settle for what you already know.
I love you now and forever.

Day Twelve of February: the Month of Love

Day twelve of loving notes on Ryan.
I love you being such a wonderful "dada" to our boys. You are a wonderful father who leads them by example, with lots of grace, mercy and love.
Thank you for being an excellent daddy to our three sons.
I love you now and forever.