I love you babies!

Roman -
Today you are 7 weeks old!! What a big boy!  You are growing and changing everyday.  Just yesterday I noticed you were finally able to form little tears when you would cry!! That made me sad! :):) haha.. You forget that babies can't make tears until a certain age.  Luckily you don't cry that much.  You are such a happy baby.  You just started making little coo sounds and stretching really long with your body when you are excited!  I love you little man.

Reesey-
You are so funny girl.  The other day I was kind of having a rough morning and you go, "Mommy, You're the best EVER!!"  It made me literally laugh out loud.  Then I said, "Thank you Reesey.  YOU'RE the best ever!!" And you said really loudly, "THANK YOU MOMMY!!"  You crack me up.  But seriously, you are the best ever.  What a special child.  You always find a way to brighten my day, or just make me giggle.  And you are SO great with your brother too.  I had taken you guys to the store yesterday, and in the car you fell asleep.  I'm driving along and all of a sudden I hear, "It's okay Roro.  You're okay.  I'm righhhhhht hereeeee.  Reesey's righhhhhht here. "  I look back and your eyes are still shut.  You were completely asleep!!! :):) LOL Hysterical.  I love you Reesey Poo.  You are my big helper, and I know Roman is going to look up to his big sister so much.  Thank you for taking care of Mommy and helping her.  I love you.

...Oh parenting;):)

Oct. 14, 2012
Reese, Yesterday was a pretty funny day at church.  I pick you up from  your nursery class only to grab a soaking wet baby doll (your doll you named affectionately "Black Baby" haha) from your teacher Miss Gina.  She informed me that one of the little boys in your class decided Black Baby needed a "bath" in the toilet.  Nice. :)  I just had to laugh.  Kids are so funny.  It's amazing how much you have grown and learned in your speech lately too!   Just recently you said the phrases- "I forgot."  "What's the matter, Momma?" "What's so funny?!" ... and the funniest "IIIIII told you soooooo!"  I am surprised daily by what you pick up and copy us saying.

Your Gigi had her book signing yesterday for "Spirit Hunger". YAY! It is so amazing what God has accomplished through your grandma.  She is an incredible woman.  I hope to be the kind of woman she is, and mother to you that she has been to me.  She is someone who truly demonstrates Gods love to ALL the people she comes across.  Whether it's giving the gate guard in our community a Starbucks coffee in the morning just to be nice,  visiting a friend in the hospital, or coming over nightly to help Mommy by giving you a bath and tucking you in to bed- ALL this while EXTREMELY busy with a book deadline, weekly classes and scheduled radio/TV interviews, etc.etc.  She is super woman!  But God equips her.  When you love Jesus and you serve God in all you do, He makes a way for you.  He leads you on the right paths that take you to the High Places. :) I read two books this morning that really remind me of the kind of parent I want to be to you and Roman.  Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard and a small little booklet I received as a gift called "Parenting - What You Are Is What You Get" by Dr. Ed Young.  

In Hinds' Feet it talked about receiving Acceptance With Joy in your heart.  Regardless of all the crazy circumstances in our lives right now I want to have acceptance with joy because I know God is faithful and leading us in with GREAT purpose.  I'm sure if you are reading this you are now old enough to know the whole story of your Mom and Dad's marriage and why it had to end.  The hardest part of this pending divorce is not knowing the effects it will have on you and Roman in the future.  I hope it will be for the better.  For you to see a marriage that is full of love.  Love for each other, love for God, and love for you two.  I never want you to wonder WHAT LOVE IS or WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE.  I want you to know a healthy relationship versus an abusive one.  I want you to know how treasured you are by me, and the MIGHTY Father you have.  We are in this together.  As my sweet sweet daughter I hope to have a special bond with you that no man can ever take away or taint.   I hope for your husband one day to treasure you and love you with all his heart.  But most importantly to treasure and love GOD first with all his heart.  If he does - he will then know how to love you well.  No marriage is perfect but with God at the center, it can be fruitful and withstand even the hardest circumstances.

Sorry this is a long letter today but I had to share other things I learned about parenting!  I know I have the power over the kind of person you will become someday so I want to do my best to raise you well.   These are my prayers as a single mom:

1- Pray that God will multiply my time I have with you and Roman
2- Pray that God will make up for the man who is not there and the masculine image that is absent.
3- Pray that God will give me the energy, faith, and "acceptance with joy" that comes with parenting.
4- Pray that I will be "major on the majors" and not sweat the small stuff - like posture, eating veggies, etc.  - but focus on training you to serve God and really know Him.

I could add a billion other points to this list - but please know that I pledge to you and your brother to pray these daily.  I will do my best to listen and obey God with my parenting and my role as a mother and friend. I love you SO MUCH Reesey girl!!!

Reesey does not like Nite Nite time

Oh Reesey... Last night was pretty interesting to say the least.  You are probably just as sleep deprived as Mommy is right now!  You've been a little scared of sleeping in your room lately.  I don't know if it's because you are trying to adjust to the new apartment, or you hear Roro waking up in the middle of the night (many times) ;) ... But you are struggling girl!  I finally decided to make a little "bed" (comforter and pillows) for you by the side of my bed so when you were scared you could just come in and sleep on your little palette on the floor.  Welllll last night you just started there, because you were not trying to sleep in your big girl bed at all.  But in the middle of the night I hear you crying and saying "I'm stuck" very quietly.  I got out of bed to comfort you and I literally couldn't find you! It scared me SO BADLY!  Then I realized your voice was coming from underneath (I kid you not) my dresser!  You had somehow squeezed your way under there in your sleep!!!! It was a little difficult to get you out, but eventually we did, and Mommy moved you to the other side of the room where you couldn't slide under anything!  You're a little snake! ;)  Now it's funny - but at the time NOT so funny!! I love you Reesey Poo.  I know you'll adjust to being in your big girl bed soon enough, and I'll probably long to sit next to your bed reading, and "keeping watch" like a security guard over you while sea horse chymes and DreamLite doggie makes stars on your ceiling. :) You're growing up so fast.  I love seeing you change and mature.  You are my precious baby girl forever though.  I love you Lamb.  * Mommy.

Welcome BABY RORO!

WELCOME MY SON!!  This letter is long overdue.  You are going to be exactly 1 month old on Wednesday.  I can't even believe it.  What a little miracle you are.  Reesey and I (and the entire family) have been filled with so much joy each and every day with you.  You are so precious.  I hate to say it again, because I said it after Reese, but I seriously think I have the most beautiful kids on the planet!!
Baby "Roro", you have made your Mommy so happy.  Your pregnancy was very difficult for Mommy but because of you I made sure to be strong and take care of myself in the best way.  You motivated me to push through the pain, and be joyful; to have hope and excitement in our future together as a family.  I am thrilled to have a son for many reasons.  One of them being I have always wanted to be a "Momma's boy!"  I hope to be close to you and Reese both in unique and special ways.  I hope to show you everything I know, and teach you all about God's love and faithfulness.  He has been so faithful to me.  I am very convinced that you were placed in my life for a specific reason.  The circumstances of getting pregnant were pretty slim, and I was definitely surprised that January morning I saw the + sign! But now when I look into your perfect face, I am so grateful that God would bless ME with YOU at this exact time. I am going to make a home for you where you know exactly what LOVE is, what it looks like, how it feels and hopefully a great picture of what God's love is for His children (us!).  I know you will be a man of great integrity.  I love you my son.  Jesus loves you.  Love, Mommy