Blah, blah, blah

Sorry for the very boring background. I'm having some difficulty w/the new template I want to use. Maybe Mr. Fix-It Matt can help me out with that tonight! Ohh... and if anyone likes Annie's mac-n-cheese, Kroger's has them on sale this week 10/$10! I stocked up on some for Isaac while they were such a great price. Have a great day, everyone!

Family Pictures

Amy came out yesterday and took some springtime family pictures for us. Visit www.photosbyamymcswegin.blogspot.com to check out some of them. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! Peace be with you!

"Fuv Foo"

I know I've been writing a lot about Isaac, but I just can't help it. I love this boy beyond words, and now I know for sure the feelings are mutual!

We follow the same bedtime routine pretty much every night. Around 8:30 Isaac has fruit or some other kind of snack and milk. We play or read until 8:45 and then head upstairs to brush his teeth, change his diaper and put on his pajamas. Finally, I turn his fan on low, close his curtains and sing Jesus Loves Me. Isaac cuddles closely and lays his head gently on my shoulder. He is always so calm and reserved when I'm just about to put him in bed. I always, always, always give him tons of kisses on his cheeks and tell him, "Mama loves you so much". This is our special time together.

Well, last night Isaac took me by complete surprise. As I was just about to lay him down, he looked at me with his binky in his mouth and said, "Fuv Foo" with a smile on his face reaching ear to ear! He said it on his own and just kept smiling at me! Throughout the day, I tell him I love him, and he'll say it back to me. If I ask him if he loves me, he nods his head. But, this was the first time he's ever initiated it, so it was extra special to me! I hope this behavior continues tonight and throughout his life.

I'm always ready to hear "Fuv Foo" from such a sweet boy!

Sweet Moments

Isaac and I were playing on the floor this morning when all of a sudden, he gave me the most adorable look ever. I wasn't sure why he was staring at me, but I certainly enjoyed the moment! He then came over to me and wrapped his little arms around my neck hugging and patting my back. I could relish in moments like this every day.

And, while checking my email, he walked near me with his hand up praising God. Chris Tomlin's version of Holy is the Lord was on K-Love, so perhaps he felt inspired to raise his hands. Whatever the case, this was a sweet moment. Even when I don't feel the greatest, somehow my wonderful toddler brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye.

Consider This...

Yesterday evening as I was walking on the treadmill and watching t.v., I discovered that one of my favorite pastors of all time, Dr. Tony Evans, was on The Church Channel. I had no idea they broadcast him, and let me tell you, if you've not heard him, you need to. He is a wonderful teacher of God's Word and has a remarkable way of bringing application to his sermons. He's a preacha- teacha man! I love him! Anyways, he was preaching out of Jonah, and some of his thoughts resonated inside my spirit. We all have "Ninevehs" in our lives. We try to run from God's providence to a safer place - any place really where God is not glorified. Jonah wanted to live outside the Will of God. He knew it was wrong, but he didn't care that he wasn't fearing the Lord. He went 3,500 miles out of his way just to run away from God. His hypocrisy was evident; how can he fear the Lord but not live in His good and perfect will? How can we do this?

Tony was saying that when we, as believers in the Lord, choose to run from God's will, we also bring others in our vicinity into the storm. Did you ever stop to think that the way you live impacts those around you even if you don't want it to? We impact people for good or evil. It is our choice, and God does allow us to make choices. We would live very differently if we truly believed our sin destroys others as well as ourselves. If you're a parent, what you say and do and how you say and do it, drives deeply into your child's/children's hearts. I see this already with Isaac. I cannot make his decisions for him, but I certainly have a great amount of influence on his life. I urge us all today to stay in the Will of God, and if we are sprinting from Him, to sprint back to Him. Don't be deceived by this world, your flesh, or the devil. God's Will is a safe zone in a dangerous sort of way. But, I'd rather be there than riding the waves of a storm on my own power.

Too Cute not to Share

Matt and I have been working diligently with Isaac to help him not whine so much. Any time he wants something, we have him say, "Please, Mama" or "More please, Mama". I've been breaking it down for him and letting him say one word at a time. So, I'll say the word I want him to say and have him repeat it. Well, tonight as he and I were having dinner (Matt's at AFIT catching up on work), he wanted a crouton. So I said, "How do you ask Mama?" He said, "Peeeze, Ma-ma"! It was soooooo stinkin' cute because I didn't have to help him in between words at all. We've only been doing this "method" I guess you could say for a couple weeks. I really want Isaac to get into a good habit at a young age of verbally responding to us. So... we continue eating dinner and he says, "More peeze, Ma-ma". Ahhh... my heart totally melted! Then he showed his smarts by pointing out "Mama's cup" and "Isaac's cup". He found the tape label where I wrote his name on his cup and pointed to it and said, "I-zaak". Wow! He's brilliant I tell ya!

Here are a few hightlights of earlier today. He was so funny while eating his granola bar and playing peekaboo with me. He's been really into hiding his face lately and covering his eyes before saying "boo"! And, now he'll close his eyes tightly when we're praying. What a character!

Yummy, yummy natural granola bar

Playing peekaboo with my mommy

I'm really not supposed to have this on the table!

Look! Two hands!

Yep - I'm verrrry cute!

Now I'm just mad!