complacency...

last night Community Bible Study started for our Habersham class. it was much needed for me after a hard day on the homefront. lets just say it was a sleepless night followed by dueling criers most of the day...plus a swing with dead batteries and me purchasing the wrong kind at the store.

i truly can count on one finger how many times i've read my bible this summer and there really is no excuse. during the talk last night, something was said that hit me like a ton of bricks and pretty much ruined my life (in a good way, that is). the speaker, who just happens to be my mom...don't you love being corrected by your mom?, was talking about how she was finishing up her bible study in her den and began looking around at all the things in there she wanted to change: new chair, change out curtains, etc, etc and then it hit her--as people we are never content with what we have except in our spiritual walk! the Lord pierced my heart as she said that. that is so me. i am always in want of: new clothes, a better car, more time with my husband at home, a better phone, a meal out, anything on pinterest, etc and never once am i in need of a better relationship with my Maker, my Comforter, my Love. if i'm truly honest here, i think i've been living this way for the past 5 years. sure i've been in bible studies, small groups, and read the Word but i haven't been actively seeking out God the way i was taught and the way He commands of me in the Bible.

so i'm challenging myself to really study this year, really seek out a more authentic relationship with the Maker of the universe...not to just answer the questions in my study but to really know God and become more like Him. my prayer is to become a better follower of Jesus, better wife, better mother, better daughter, sister and friend. all for the sake of Jesus and knowing Him and making Him known to others. and i am clinging to His promise in Jeremiah 29, verse 13:

"you will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart."

all for these boys,
who are growing up way too fast and watching my every move,
and their daddy whom i love so much:

i challenge you as well to make knowing Jesus the thing you WANT most in life, more than things, status, relationships, or anything else. i know He won't let us down if we seek Him wholeheartedly.

love, april

date night

friday night chris and i went on a date for our last free friday night before fridays start consisting of tailgates, half time shows, and wins & losses. it wasn't anything super fancy but to me it was perfect. the attic and then a ride with the windows down and the radio up. it is great spending quality time alone with my hubby. here is a pic of our scenery while driving around. thank you chris for asking me out. :)

p.s. thanks for all the encouragement on our new sleeping arrangements. eli has been doing much better.

big boy bed: update II

so things were great for the first night and since then its not so well. chris finally rocked eli to sleep during nap time and laid him down in his bed. he slept for 1 hour when he usually sleeps for 3.

last night we put him down after his nightly routine and he stayed put. he did get up twice and cry from his door around 3 and 6. chris laid him down at 3 and he went back to sleep and then at 6, he just stayed in there and slept with him...i'm sure because he was exhausted.

we are praying for a break through. hopefully it will come soon.

big boy bed update

last night was our first night in the big boy bed or as eli likes to say "bo big bed". he did excellent. we went through his nightly routine and then walked out of the room. he stayed put and fell asleep. he stayed asleep until the next morning and stayed in bed until we went to get him.

nap time is happening now and is a completely different story! for the past hour we have been going back into his room and putting him back in the bed. he has been crying and screaming and throwing his juice and getting up. he goes to the gate at his door and screams and cries. we are kind of at a loss as to what is right and what is wrong in this process. chris and i have both gone in there and laid down with him but he continues to play. hopefully, later today there will be a better update from nap time. chris just switched places with me and is in the bed with him. hopefully the pouring down rain will help lull him to sleep.

its that time...

the shadows are getting longer and the nights are getting cooler
so you know what that means....

IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON!!!
can you tell eli is a little bit excited about watching the Raiders play football?

big boy bed

well...tomorrow is the big day when we will transition eli into his new bed. wipe away tears now. the bed he will be sleeping in is part of a bunk bed set that my grandparents bought for my dad when he was 5 or 6. since they have been used by myself, my sisters, cousins-miller and parker, and the clark family. we are so happy to now pass on the tradition to eli. he is pretty pumped about his new bed. hopefully he will stay in it and sleep well. we will update everyone soon.

3 generations of bunk bed sleepers.

someone rolled over!

yes. ty decided to roll over on monday! we put him on his belly and off he went. i couldn't believe it. he is a pretty strong little fellow. he always is stiff and wants to stand while you are holding him. i remember eli doing this but not so soon.

ty has his moments, especially in the afternoon into the evening. and i'm beginning to wonder if i let him swing too much. it seems he sleeps best while in motion. to say he is spoiled is an understatement.
he is also pretty fat...as you can see here.
at his 2 month check up he was 12 lbs 8 oz (80%) and 22.5 in long (45%)
he is quite the little nugget for sure!

in other news...
we've been having a small craft time at home.
i think i'm going to start having a small preschool time here to get eli ready for when he does start going to a real preschool. he loved painting!

he also got a new lawnmower from chris's uncle bryan and aunt carole.
he loves getting outside and mowing the grass with chris.
he even has to wear a hat like daddy.

ty loves to smile when he isn't screaming!:)

and eli is getting pretty brave at the pool.
he loves to jump off the diving board or jumping rocks here.
he even jumped in by himself with no one there to catch him.
he went under water and i thought he was going to come up screaming...but he came up smiling saying "more more"