Happy Birthday, Baby Boy

It's Taylor's 2nd birthday today!

I just can hardly believe that two years ago today at 12:42 pm I gave birth to the most wonderful little guy I've ever known. He truly lights up our lives and we are blessed beyond measure to have Taylor in our family.

Taylor adores his sisters. He loves to give Ryleigh kisses. He follows Lily around and wants to do anything that she's doing. If she's getting her shoes on, he wants his shoes on. If she's having a snack, he wants a snack. If she's looking at books, he's looking at books. If she's coloring at the kitchen table, he wants to color at the kitchen table. Etc, etc, etc. =)

He is a finicky eater - eating one thing one day but not the next. He still usually eats whatever fruit is on his plate first and then moves on to the rest. The first bite is the hardest! If you can get him to take that first bite he'll typically eat the rest with no problem.

His vocabulary has just exploded. He's talking a ton and communicates pretty well.

He counts to 10, but skips 6 and 7. =) He walks around the house saying 8, 9, 10. 8, 9, 10. 8, 9, 10. It's cute.

He loves his puggy (pacifier) and bankies (two blue blankets). He carries those blankets around the house and likes to hold them when he watches a movie and definitely sleeps with them. I'm not sure when to get rid of the puggy. I originally thought about trying to do it by age 2, but with having a new baby and all the changes he's had to adjust to I thought it would be okay to let him keep his puggy as a comfort. So now I'm thinking maybe by Christmas? We'll see...

He is such a lover. He gives lots of hugs and kisses to all of us of his own initiative. It's so sweet. And most of the time when I ask for hugs or kisses he's very willing to oblige me. I love to hug and kiss this boy!

He still takes a wonderful afternoon nap. He's usually ready to go down around 12:30 or 1 and sleeps for about two hours. His big sister went through several phases where she was nearly impossible to get to nap and he is the total opposite. When asked to lay down he says, "Kay." It is such an ice change of pace after "fighting" with our firstborn!!!

He is an early bird. He's usually up around 6 am. And our summer schedule and getting to bed later hasn't changed that. Bummer.

He can reach the ice and water dispenser on our fridge and loves to get his own water. However, there is almost always a spill and so I don't like to let him do it. It's only water, but it drives me crazy wiping up spill after spill!!! But he sees Lily doing it so he wants to do it too. =)

He can reach light switches now and likes to turn lights ON. He also likes to close doors. So he goes around the house turning on lights and closing doors. Not ideal. =)

He has big feet. Huge, actually. He's wearing a size 9. It isn't because he needs the length but because his feet are so THICK. They're like blocks. Chubby and so cute.

He wears 2T and 3T tops and 24 month and 2T bottoms.

Still allergic to eggs as far as we know.

He recently had a CRAZY reaction to sunscreen. His entire torso was covered in an awful looking, red, splotchy rash. It took him about 10 days to recover entirely. Poor baby. I haven't yet figured out a sunscreen that we can use for him, so for now he wears a hat and one of those sun protective shirts

He loves to play at the park and the splash pad. He's pretty fearless and tries lots of things that Lily wasn't attempting at his age.

He's all boy and loves to tackle, jump off of things, run at/into things, etc.

Lily and I somehow started calling Ryleigh "Ryleigh-boo" and it stuck. Taylor's version of that is "La-Boo" and it is just so precious to hear him calling her that.

He has just a little bit of a lisp. His "s" sound is really more of a "th" sound. I like it.

He has his two year check-up on Monday and I can't wait to find out what he weighs and how tall he is.

Here are some of his current cute little words and phrases:

hepoo (help you)
holber (hold you)
nack (snack)
tiss (kiss)
bate (grape)
moonie (movie)
thoot (swimsuit)
poot (pooped)
sockgame (softball game)
oh no
oh my
oh man
bubbeer (bubbles)
cub (golf club)
booby (blueberry)

I know I'm forgetting a bunch of cute things, but it's late and I'm tired. It's hard to express just how wonderful he is and how much we love him! I'm so excited to see what God will do in his life and what he'll become. It's truly a joy and privilege to be his momma! I love you, Taylor Baylor! Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!!!

Taylor's Birthday ~ July 15, 2008

First Birthday!!!

2nd Birthday!!!

The Prodigal

My cousin posted this video on fb. I have the CD from Sovereign Grace so I was familiar with the song, but I love the video!!! (Please remember to pause the music at the bottom of my blog)



Here are the lyrics:

You held out Your arms, I walked away
Insolent I spurned Your face
Squandering the gifts You gave to me
Holding close forbidden things
Destitute a rebel still, a fool in all my pride
The world I once enjoyed is death to me
No joy, no hope, no life

Where now are the friends, that I had bought
Gone with every penny lost
What hope could there be for such as I
Sold out to a world of lies
Oh, to see Your face again, it seems so distant now
Could it be that You would take me back
A servant in Your house

You held out Your arms, I see them still
You never left, You never will
Running to embrace me, now I know
Your cords of love will always hold
Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
Such favor undeserved
You sing over me and celebrate
The rebel now Your child
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP).

Thank you, Jesus, for your unfailing love!!!

Anguish for Brothers

So I talk about my parents a lot. They're just so amazing.

My mom has been up here weekly since Ryleigh was born. She just fills in the gaps and makes things go more smoothly around here.

She loves on the kids with snuggles, playing, stroller rides, reading stories, etc.

She does laundry.

She makes beds.

(I don't believe in making my bed)

(Unless people are coming over)

(And even then sometimes I still don't make it)

She watches kids so that I can run errands.

Or so that Andy and I can go on a date!

(These weekly dates have been VERY important and VERY much appreciated)

I could go on and on! My mom just keeps giving and giving to us. I don't like that I'm in a stage of life where I feel like I keep taking and taking. I hope to be a in a position to give back sooner than later. Because I'm just so grateful for all she's done. I truly don't know what I would do without her!

And then there's my dad.

I got an email from him recently with something he had written in his journal. It made me cry. It's just so beautiful. We are so blessed to have him in our lives! My kids have the BEST grandpa in the entire world!

Here is what he wrote:

Anguish for Brothers

Romans 9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ- I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit- 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Paul is speaking specifically of his deep love for his Jewish kin from the tribes of Israel. But in principle he speaks more widely. Nearly all of us know what it is to love someone with a pained love, to so deeply desire the welfare they are not yet enjoying that it hurts us. Parents of prodigals, wives of unbelieving husbands, and pastors of sinners in their congregations know the ache of longing for happy belief to arrive in the lives of their loved ones.

It is a pain known by this grandfather whose earnest longing is for Lily, Taylor, and Ryleigh to know the love of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, fix your love on these grandchildren. Bless them in such a way that they latch onto you by faith as you latch on to them with unshakable faithfulness to your promises. Give them eyes to see your unsurpassed beauty and worth. Give them ears to hear the word preached and to hear your Spirit’s promptings with obedience. Give them an appetite for your word, a delight in your counsel, and a glad-hearted inclination to worship you and love your people.

Let them look straight on, not glancing to the right or left, but walking in your ways. Bless them with every spiritual blessing, taking them to maturity that is only in Christ Jesus.

Enable them to honor their father and mother and bless the generations to come. Make them gifted and fit members of the body of Christ, joined with others in ways that are upbuilding. Bless them by the church and make them a blessing to the church. Take their hearts, minds, and tongues into captivity, causing them to serve the truth, and joy, and blessing.

Give them a solid theology of suffering so that they are content in any situation, no grumbling or murmuring, seeing your good and loving hand at work in any difficult situation. Give them rest at the right time, and energize them at the right time.

Help them walk with the wise and in doing so become wise. Fill them with faith and by your Holy Spirit, producing the fruit that corresponds – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Protect them from the evil one, mishap, vulnerability to the influence of fools, disease, and anything that would weaken their faith. Rescue them from false philosophies and vain disputations. Provide them with all the suffering that would refine their character in your sovereign love.

Make them shine as lights.

Give them a grandfather who loves you and loves them – genuinely and deeply.

Grandpa and Ryleigh interacting with each other. So sweet!