Glad Tidings of Great Joy

Is it possible for Christmas to get better every year?

This was our 4th year to not have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.

I guess it's kinda complicated to explain to those that don't understand.

No Stockings. No exchanging gifts. No Christmas tree. Definitely no Santa.

For me, it means replacing stress with peace, which is so difficult to look around and see this time of year. We sing songs of Joy, but are we stopping to experience that Joy? We sing songs of Peace, but are we resting in the Peace which passes all understanding - and focusing on Him alone?

It means that my focus changes. Instead of giving to those that already have too much, I'm giving to those that do without. And this means I'm exchanging gifts with the One who should really be getting the gifts anyway.

He Alone is the reason that we celebrate.

This year, I kept my mouth closed, and I listened. I asked people how they were doing.

"I'm doing good, but I just have so much shopping left to do. I was hoping that I would be done by now so that I could just enjoy the rest of December."

I had to sit back and praise God. I was listening to so many people tell me how stressed out they were, and I was just so thankful. Thankful that instead of all of the stress, I got to sit back, relax, and enjoy my Savior...and teach my children to do the same.

My prayer this month was that others may experience what I have been experiencing.

Love. Joy. Peace.

no strings attached.

yes, even at Christmas. Especially at Christmas.

Throughout December we did the Jesse Tree - reading scriptures that told the story of God's Redemption of his people - through the prophesies and the lineage of Christ.

Bella loved figuring out which symbol ornament went with the scriptures we read.

Balian loved turning on the lights of the tree, getting the box of ornaments out, and stacking the ornaments to make towers.

But even in the midst of making towers, the kids were learning. When Balian was praying one night he mentioned something about Adam and Eve. I couldn't make out everything, but at least he was catching on to something. And he was getting so excited about putting baby Jesus on the tree...Christmas Eve it was like he just couldn't stand the anticipation. The mention of the name Jesus, and he was running to the box to get the baby Jesus ornament out. He was excited.

I taught the kids about St. Nicholas. The real one. We talked about how St. Nicholas gave to people that had needs - like food, money to pay taxes, etc. - because he loved Jesus. We talked about how we should do the same.

To Celebrate St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6), I asked Bella if she could help me go through her toys to see if there were any toys that she didn't play with anymore, or that she simply didn't want. I explained that there are some little boys and girls that don't have very many (if any) toys to play with - and that she has a LOT of toys. God wants us to share what we have with others that don't have as much. My daughter has such a giving heart! I think she would have given away ALL of her toys if I hadn't told her she couldn't! After going through them all, the toys we decided to part with went under the Jesse Tree - our gifts to Jesus - by giving to those that don't have as much. (we donated them later.)

We also watched the Veggie-tales video about St. Nicholas. It's actually very good, and I have to admit that I had to keep myself from crying at the end of it a couple of times...

We talked about Jesus' birthday all month long. Bella dressed up, put veils on her head, and acted out the story of Christmas, while pretending to be Mary - using her baby dolls for baby Jesus.

Bella never referred to December 25 as Christmas. It was always "Jesus' Birthday."

We did talk about Santa, and how he (gasp!) isn't real. Some people think that he is real, but he isn't. He is pretend - just like Rapunzel. A story. And although there are books, toys, movies, and games all about both Santa and Rapunzel, they are both pretend. Not the truth.

Jesus is the Truth. Jesus is why we have Christmas. It's His Birthday - just like we all have a birthday.

We talked about gifts. We get presents on our birthday. We give presents to people on their birthdays - because we are happy that they are alive so that we can love them. That is their special day. Would Bella like it if on her birthday everybody gave Balian presents? I wonder if Jesus feels the same way...

In the midst of all of this, Neil and I prayed, as we always do, about what gift our family could give Jesus for His birthday this year. How did he want us to serve him - to be his hands and feet?

And he led us right to where he wanted us to be. A place we probably never would have gone otherwise. I remember getting off of the phone after figuring everything out, and tears were running down my face as I was talking to Neil about the opportunity that God had given us. I was beyond words. In the midst of giving, Jesus was giving to us - filling our hearts to overflowing. And as we experience this pouring out, we're getting addicted to it. We want more. We want to do more. We want to give more.

And we do.

No it shouldn't (and doesn't) just happen at Christmas. But there is something thirst-quenching about giving to the Lord on His day. Bringing our gifts, and bowing down before the King - presenting them to Him in a posture of Worship. Like the Wise Men did so long ago, we give gifts to the One who deserves the Praise.

We celebrated Him.

We were Blessed to have my brother, Brandon, with us this year for our Jesus Celebration. It was so good to spend time with him. catch up. Talk about the Lord like we never have before. The change that I've seen in him - the way he's growing in the Lord. My heart is full of Joy. I'm overflowing. Thank you, Jesus.

We made and decorated a Birthday cake, and sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

We watched St. Nicholas...again...

We did a scavenger hunt - searching for baby Jesus. We used Scripture, and did activities, and with each step understood more about God's love story. At the end of our journey, we found baby Jesus, wrapped in strips of cloth - in a stable, with the animals. So unfitting for my King.

Bella and Balian took turns holding baby Jesus, and were so, so gentle.

The wonder of Christmas, for me, no longer lies in children's faces as they see a big Christmas tree or see what Santa brought them on Christmas morning.

The wonder of Christmas lies in children's faces as they come one step closer to knowing their Savior.

We read the Christmas story again, from Luke, Chapter 2, and we FINALLY put our baby Jesus ornament on the top of the Jesse Tree.

I listen to their beautiful voices as we sing praise - and worship together as a family - celebrating the birth of Jesus. God humbling himself to be like one of us.  The Lamb without blemish - born to lay down his life.  To experience the separation from God and the full measure of God's wrath that we deserve.  That I deserve. To save us ALL.  Once.  Forever.

Joy to the world!

The Lord has come!

Let Earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare him room!

Let Heaven and nature sing!!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus! We give you all the Glory!!

Not. Quite. Crawling.

Yes, Isaiah is 9 months now, and still isn't crawling.  The other two kids started the day they turned 9 months.    He's finding ways to get around though - at least a little bit.

If we're in the living room, he'll hold on to the shag rug, and pull himself forward.  

He can get up on his knees, and when he does he rocks.  We've tried to entice him with keys, water bottles, phones, etc...but nope.  This is a video of one of Neil's ideas to try to get him moving.  Someday I'll be able to post a video of him actually crawling...until then, enjoy! 

I Love My Job!

We are all sitting down to dinner, getting food on the table, and getting everybody situated.  I finally sit down, and look over at Balian interacting with Isaiah.

He's holding Isaiah's hands together and saying "Thank you...God...for Mama...for Daddy...Bella...me..."

yes, my 2-yr-old was teaching my almost 9-month-old how to pray.

Discipleship starts early, friends.

Didy, a.k.a Waves

 So after my first experience with carrying Isaiah on my back - and him sleeping for 2 hours - I was totally sold on it.  My friend Emily is the VP of Ft. Worth Babywearers, and she helped me out a LOT!  After researching wraps, I saw that even though it's just a piece of fabric, it wasn't something I could make and have the same results (comfort, support, etc.) of a bought woven wrap.  I went over to Emily's house and tried out different wraps, she helped me practice different techniques, and she helped me better learn how to get Isaiah in back carries by myself.  She directed me to thebabywearer.com where you can buy woven wraps used on the For Sale or Trade forum.  And that's where I found it.  A used Didymos Silver Waves wrap.  I bought it from a mama in Canada for a really good price, and after trying it out, I wonder how in the world I made it this long without one.  Seriously...those mamas all over the world that carry their babies around while they do everything with the use of both hands have an edge on us "civilized" folk.  See for yourself:

Here's Isaiah in it.  Totally comfy.  Good support.  Not tight around the legs cutting of circulation.  He can see everything going on around him, and I can pull up the fabric that's around his back so that he can go to sleep if he wants.  I can do everything using both hands.  I don't feel like I need to put a hand on Isaiah to support him at all.  On a particular fussy day, I put him back there like this, and cooked dinner.  chopped veggies, bent down to get dishes out of cabinets, etc.  not a fuss was had when he was back there.  seriously amazing.  Oh, and no tugging at my shoulders or making my back hurt because of the baby's weight.  No hunching over. nothing.  love it.

And just to show how supportive these wraps are, here's Balian in it.  Yes, he's over 2 years old.  Honestly, I could probably carry Bella in it if I really wanted to.  So what did I do when I wrapped up Balian on my back?  I took him for a hands-free piggy-back ride...running around the house.  yes, I was running.  and yes, without hands supporting him at all.  It's that supportive.  He had a blast!

Seriously...I wish I had known about these things sooner!  It totally beats slings, ring slings, and Moby's, hands down!

Time with Daddy

Neil has no idea this was taken.  He and Bella were sitting outside at his parent's house.  The rest of us were spying on them through the kitchen window.  Bella was talking Neil's ear off, and he just sat there with her while she talked.  We were taking votes as to whether or not he was listening.  Then a while later, we'd see him say something back.  These two were probably out there for a good 45 minutes or so.  We have no idea what Bella was talking about, but what I DO know is that this kind of time with her Daddy is priceless.

Camping with the Cousins

While visiting Neil's family for Thanksgiving, all the kids (that were there) went for a camp-out on some of Neil's parent's property - the "country house", as Bella calls it.  PopPop, Neil and Kyle pitched tents, built a campfire, and slept out there with the bigger kiddos.  We all joined in for hot dogs and s'mores that night, and breakfast burritos the next day.  The kids all had a ton of fun together!  Bella was even asking if we could do it again the next night!

Mmm...that warm fire!

Taylor and Chase with Nana

Bella Girl

Miranda, Addison, Kyle, and Chase

The Campsite

Balian smiles

And Isaiah too

The Jones cousins: Chase, Bella, Taylor, Isaiah, ad Balian (Maris was in TX, and Addison was at home.)

And just in case you can't tell, Bella really liked Nana's Pumpkin Cheesecake at Thanksgiving.  Yup.  She's licking the caramel off the plate.  wow.  Her Daddy's girl, indeed!

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

For those that don't know, the season of Advent started on Sunday.  Advent is the season where we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's coming.  We reflect on the meaning of Christ becoming flesh.  We read the Love Story that God unfolded, and had planned since the beginning of time.  It's so easy to get caught up in all of the "festivities" that surround Christmastime, and neglect the very thing that is the most important - worship and adoration of the Savior Himself.  That's why I love Advent.  It helps me to slow down, reflect, worship, pray, and serve - all while anticipating the celebration that is to come.

I've gotten tons of questions lately about the Jesse Tree.  I love the questions, because I am so excited that a lot of our friends have decided to start doing the Jesse Tree with their families this year.  I just love this tradition.  Starting the first day of Advent, you read a passage of scripture together as a family, then hang a corresponding ornament on your Jesse Tree.  The readings go through the promises that God made to his people, the lineage of Christ, and the prophesies about Christ, all leading up to Jesus' birth.  The Jesse Tree gets its name from the Messianic prophesy in Isaiah 11, that starts with "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit..."

Where do you get a Jesse Tree?
There are people that sell the whole package or just the ornaments, or just a booklet of readings and information on Etsy.  Most are done out of felt and done like a banner that you hang on your wall.  This is what I grew up using, only my mom made ours.  You could also do what we've done, and use the Christmas tree that you already have.  Instead of using it as a "Christmas tree", we still put it up, put lights on it (Jesus is the light of the world) and put an angel on top (Announcing the Coming of the Lord), then only put our Jesse tree ornaments on it.  So, it starts out with only lights and gets one ornament added every night.  I also handmade my ornaments out of wooden circles and squares that I got at a craft store, used paint pens to draw pictures on them, drilled holes in the tops, and put wire through them to make hooks to hang them.  Want to do the Jesse tree but really want to save money?  Go get a big branch out of your backyard, draw pictures on paper circles, and put some yarn through them.  yep.  that works too.

You want Scripture verses to read?
There are so many scripture readings that you could use.  What each family uses differs greatly.  If you look it up, you'll get lots of different passages.  This is the list that we use, which are the same readings that I grew up with.  Add or subtract passages as you wish, change up the order to mix up old testament and new testament...just remember the most passages you should use is 28, because  at most, Advent is 4 full weeks.

Week 1:
 Jeremiah 33: 14-16 Jesse Tree Prophesy (tree branch)
Genesis 1:1-2:4a Creation (world and clouds)
Gen. 2:4b-7 Creation of Man (mud man)
Gen. 2:8-17 Where man lives (tree and flowers)
Gen. 2:18-24 Creation of Woman (lumber lady)
Gen. 3:1-7 The Fall (serpent and apple)
Gen. 3:8-24 The Result (flaming sword)

Week 2:
Gen 4: 1-16 Cain and Able (Man torn from man)
Gen. 6:5-9; 7:1-5,10, 17-23; 8:6-13 The Flood (ark)
Gen. 9:1-17 Noah's covenant (Rainbow)
Gen. 11:1-9 Tower of Babel (*says people torn from people.  We use the tower as a symbol.)
Gen. 12:1-7; 15:5-6 (*says tent, but we use a sky full of stars)
Gen. 22:1-18 Sacrifice of Issac (lamb)
Gen. 28:10-22 Jacobs Dream (ladder)

Week 3:
Gen. 37:1-35 Selling of Joseph (coat)
Ex. 3:1-18 Moses' call (burning bush)
Ex. 20:1-17 Law of the Covenant (tablets/10 commandments)
1 Sam. 3:1-20 Samuel, first Prophet (lamp)
1 Sam. 9:15-17,25-10:1 Saul, first king (oil flask)
1 Sam. 16:1-13 Jesse's son (branch with flowers)
1 Sam. 16:14-23 David (harp)

Week 4:
1 Kings 3:3-28 Solomon (justice scales)
Micah 5:2-4 Bethlehem prophesy (town)
Jeremiah 23:2-8 people-shepherd prophesy (shepherd's crook)
Isaiah 9:2-7 Messiah-king prophesy (crown)
Isaiah 11:1-10 Messianic age prophesy (branch with fruit)
Matthew 1:18-25 Annunciation and expectation (angel)
Luke 2:1-21 Nativity evening (baby)

And now...worship.
  For a lot of years now, this has been my favorite Advent song.  It's an updated version of the hymn that's actually really good and speaks to my heart every time I listen to it.  I hope you enjoy!!

Making a Masterpiece...

So my grandfather (who died almost a year ago) made this easel for my sister and I when we were little.  Yes, he made it.  Now, after many years of sitting in my parent's garage, it is being put to good use again!  I think it's a fabulous addition to our school room, and the kids think so too :)

I got this idea from Parent's Magazine.  I got some cheap 4oz baby bottles, filled them with paint, cut off the top of the nipple and put it in the bottle upside down and put the ring on.  Tada!  Re-sealable paint holders that take excess paint off of paintbrushes too!!  

Worked fabulously!

My Little Gymnast

We started Bella in Gymnastics (Finally!) about 2 weeks ago at GymKat Sport Center here, in Granbury.  She LOVES it!  It's a small class of (at most 6) 3.5-5 yr-olds. It's been more like 2 kids...hoping for more for the purpose of socialization, but at least she has something that is JUST for her, and something that she can work hard at and excel.  A good excuse for praise from Mom and Dad :)

...and this is the best picture I could get on her first day...

The sticker on her shirt is for following directions :) 

MmmmMmmm Good!

I've been making up more baby food for Isaiah.  Here, I've canned some Pears and some Plumbs.  I only can fruit purees.  With Balian, I wanted to do veggies.  However, the only way you can safely can veggies is with a pressure canner...and the pressure canner instructions specifically said NOT to do purees.  So...I gave up.  Botulism is not something I want to mess with.  So after steaming and pureeing, I can the fruit (high-acid) foods using the boiling bath method, and freeze the veggies in babycubes then separate into ziploc bags.  It's worked out pretty good for me.  But there's just something about all those canning jars lined up...makes me happy :)

Rub-a-dub-dub

Rub-a-dub-dub

3 kids in the tub

ooo, the new possibilities

the baby, the comic, and the firecracker too

I can't believe it's true!

*sidenote:
Do you see the Pet shampoo?  No, we don't have a dog.  We use it for Isaiah (and me) for eczema.  I know.  weird.  But it's been working really good and I've definitely noticed a difference in both of us.  It's actually John Paul's (the Paul in Paul Mitchell) Pet Shampoo for sensitive skin or something like that.  It has oatmeal and almond oil in it...if you or your baby have eczema, check it out!

And yes, Balian got a haircut.  I went grocery shopping, and when I came home, he had no hair.  Apparently some guy at the auto parts store referred to Balian as a "she" and Neil just couldn't handle it.  Whatever.  People are so dense.  I thought it would be the coolest thing ever for my crazy man to have a fro.  We'll try again later, I suppose...

A Little Piece of Heaven

This is what makes a great day:  All 3 kids in the same room, playing together, without arguing, fighting, bickering, or being too rough.  Just good 'ol playtime.  Makes this Mama very happy :)

*sigh*

love, love, love it!

Pumpkin Painting

Painting the Pumpkins they got at Mainstay Farm :)

The Choice

Every morning I have a choice.
It determines the rest of my day.
my mood, my attitude,
and the way I will react
to everything that comes my way.
This choice carries over to my children as well,
in all that they say and do.
For their attitudes reflect the ones of their mother
and their mother affects their moods.

My choice lies between the sheets of my bed,
where I lie cozy, all comfy and warm.
Will I choose today to die to myself
and give up sleep to spend time with my Lord?
Or will I choose to be awakened,
grumpy and delaying
into another day of shouting,
bickering, and complaining
all the while wondering why on earth I chose this path
when a more fulfilling way lies in this one choice that I have.

For when I wake with the Lord,
and I give my time to him,
there is a refilling of the Spirit within me.
There is peace.  There is joy.
Purpose with every question,
and boundless opportunity.
Discipline is done with humility,
a good attitude, and a calm disposition.
Time exists that never would have otherwise.
And I am able to not just speak, but also listen.
Joy is found in everything that I do.
I sing as I fold laundry.
I hum while doing dishes, and my children sing along.
Less bickering, less shouting.

though chaotic at times, I love my job.
and I'm content at the end of the day.
No headache, no backache, but excitement and joy
And all of this because I woke up to pray?

So why would I choose the bed,
when I know dying to self is gain?
Why does hitting snooze seem so wonderful
when it ruins my day?
I'm learning to say no
to my comfy bed and sheets.
And arising to spend time with the Lord
as my beautiful children sleep.
And the more time that I spend with Him,
the better off I'll be.
For my children's example of following Christ
lies entirely within me.

Is Grass Growing in Your Path?

I feel like I've been challenged a lot lately.  No; stop; let me re-phrase that.  I have been REALLY challenged by A LOT of different things.

1. I've been challenged by something that has always seemed to be a mystery to me, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and I have been earnestly seeking out what Scripture says, rather than man.  What is the difference between being baptized by the Holy Spirit - and how is that different than being filled with the Holy Spirit?  When does this Baptism take place?  When does the filling take place?  Is it something that happens separate from salvation, or does it happen at the same time?  Why, when I read scripture, does Paul talk about it happening when we receive Christ - being sealed with the Holy Spirit - yet in Acts, there are times that it's an entirely separate thing?  Why are there so many different/conflicting opinions about all of this?
But just like scripture says, we will find Him when we seek him with all of our heart.  He has clarified that whole thing to me, which has been (for real) something I have been wrestling with for years.  About 4 or 5 years actually.  The wrestling came to it's highest point this summer - probably so that I was good and ready for His answer that I received this Fall.  Praise the Lord! If I have learned anything from this it is that you really CAN NOT take one (or sometimes even several) passages of scripture and turn a narrative into something that is normative.  You HAVE to take ALL of scripture as a whole...and see what it is that God was really doing/saying.  Sometimes I have a hard time seeing/grasping the BIG picture...and that's when it gets scary - because that's when I start to see "contradictions" that really aren't contradictions at all.  (if you're interested in what I found - I'll be more than happy to share.)

2. I've been challenged by the overwhelming amount of idols in my life.  My BSF leader was talking about how believers in Africa will go out of their homes and walk to a garden or other specified area to pray every day.  After a while, the person will wear a path on the way to their prayer place.  But if a person stopped going to their prayer place to meet with God, their path would naturally start growing grass back where it was once worn.  As a form of rebuke between believers, one believer may say to another "Is grass growing on your path?"
Then she posed the question "Is there grass growing in YOUR path?"  And the other question was "And where are you going so much that you are wearing a path down?"  In other words, am I wearing a path to my computer?  to my TV?  to my hobbies?  even to church - but letting grass grow on my path that leads me to time alone with the Lord?  Am I seeking the Lord above all else, or am I seeking everything else above the Lord?
Idols are everywhere and can take the form of anything.  Anything that takes our eyes off of the One who gives abundant life.
I've been slapped in the face with a few of these over the past couple of months - and when I've given things up, I've seen just how much of a hold on me they have had.  It's kinda scary, really.  Just an example: I gave up Facebook and Blogging for a while - and I realized just how much I was caring about other's acceptance/approval and opinions about me.  umm...ridiculous!  I never really thought I cared... I also realized what I was really doing - avoiding my Lord.  And for the first week - it was scary just how much I thought about getting on the computer.  seriously?  I really had no idea how much it affected me.  But as time went on, and I spent more time with Jesus, and more time doing things that really mattered, the less I cared about it.  Amazing.  Kinda like the book "You Are Special" by Max Lucado.

3. I've been kicked in the gut about the true cost of discipleship.  Neil and I are reading a book called "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  He definitely doesn't pull any punches, walk around on eggshells, or do anything else cliche'.  I'll post on this one later, but let me just say this:  we try to read between the lines in our Bibles so much that we more times than not convince ourselves that Jesus is saying something entirely different than what he actually said.  Neil and I have been challenged for 2 years now about that - and we have been seeking out what being a disciple should REALLY look like.  The more we read Scripture, the more unsettled we become about our part in the American Church - and how it doesn't seem to line up with Scripture.  We are willing to change, but lack vision and wisdom, I suppose...as well as a definite calling.  We are seeking that out, and this is one of the ways that the Lord is showing us the very delicate balance between living in America and being a disciple of Jesus...so that we aren't vomited out of Jesus' mouth when we finish up our time on earth.  But sometimes it just feels like a dagger in the gut to NOT ride the fence.  Dying to self.  Discipleship.  It isn't as easy as our pastors make it sound.  It costs us everything.

On that note - Have a great day! :)

Mainstay Farm

We headed out somewhere close to the middle of nowhere - about 45 minutes away from us - to Mainstay Farm.  What a fabulous way to welcome Fall!  It was a beautiful day.  Although the temperature was up in the 80's, we had a nice cool breeze...and I got a bit of a sunburn...in October.  Is that possible?
(oh, and we actually remembered the good camera...even remembered to charge the battery...but the battery was left at home on the computer desk.  oh no!  so, you'll have to excuse my non-iphone camera capabilities with these pictures.)

The kids had a lot of fun.  They jumped on the jumping "pillow":

Played on the slides and playhouse:

Drove some pedal-carts:

Bella got her face painted:

And of course, we got some pumpkins.

We didn't have time for everything (like a hay-ride), but we had a lot of fun.  It was definitely a Saturday well-spent with the family.  Going back next year is a must!

Where was Isaiah through all of this?

Yes...he's asleep on my back.  This is the most incredible wrap technique I have found yet.  Isaiah took a nice 2-hour nap like this!  Even better - I had my hands free to help with the other two kids, and it didn't hurt my shoulders or back like crazy.  I didn't feel like I needed to re-adjust him and I didn't feel like I just "couldn't take it anymore" at any time...for 2 hours...while he was sleeping...in and out of sun and shade and walking around everywhere, going uphill and downhill, etc.  seriously amazing.  want to learn how I did it?  Go to http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/ and check out the link for back carries - there are some videos that show how to do it.  I used my Moby wrap this time around (with much help from Neil), but I think I'd rather have a non-stetchy wrap.  I've never really "gotten" the Moby wrap - it's never really felt tight enough or secure enough to go hands-free.  Perhaps it's more in the technique.  The moby worked fine...but it's too long for this purpose...I had to wrap it around my body a time or two with the extra fabric just to keep it out of the way.  Anyway, if you like to wear your baby, you should check this out.  Seriously great!

Isaiah - 7 months

Well, at 7 months, Isaiah is experiencing a lot of firsts.

1. Eating solid food.  We started trying to give solids at just over 6 months, but it's taken a little bit to figure out how to do it this time around.  So I'll say he officially started at about 7 months.  His first food was squash.  I'm not sure Isaiah knew what was coming.

But after a while, he got the hang of it.  Now we've had squash, pears, sweet potatoes.  We've attempted peas, but his belly didn't like them...and we've tried oatmeal, but at this point he's gagging on it - and this kid has a pretty strong gag reflex, I've learned.  not good.  But now he's at a point that he sees the jar and gets excited - and sees eating solids as actual food.  Sometimes I wonder if he likes it better than milk...we will see.

2. Isaiah started rolling back to tummy at about 6.5 months.  It's like one day he was kinda working on it, and the next day he had it.  End of story.

Now, he's rolling all over the living room, turning himself in circles on his tummy, and getting stuck everywhere.  He's been trying to scoot and push off with his knees a bit, and will push up on his hands, but he hasn't figured out how to put the two together.  He's definitely wanting to move around a lot more than the other two did, and IS moving more than the other two were at this point.  I've never had a baby use rolling as a mode of transportation before...until now.  We'll see when he starts crawling.  I'm betting on 9 months to the day like the others...but he could surprise me.

3. Another physical milestone:  Sitting alone.  It took me a while to figure out if Isaiah really could sit on his own.  He's so active that he would constantly move around - throw himself back, or reach for something and do a face-plant - he just wouldn't stay still enough to be able to improve his balance.  Even in the Bumbo seat, he would be trying to reach for something on the floor next to him, so he'd eventually get really twisted up and kinda hanging out of the thing.  But I finally figured out what to do:  put something in front of him that can't move!  And lo and behold - the kid could sit up on his own so long as he was occupied!

Here he is playing with Balian.  I took the top off of an activity table and put it on the floor - and he's loved it!

Along with being able to sit up, comes a lot more fun.  Isaiah got to try out the toddler swing for the first time.

(this picture was taken by Bella, by the way.)

Today he even experienced a Chick-fil-A high chair for the first time.  Both made possible because of a little genius contraption by Ikea that wraps around his body to support just a bit when the thing he's sitting in is kinda big.  Fabulous.  And I bought it for less than I could make it for...like $4.  Another reason I love Ikea. :)

We also had our first "Fall" day!!  It has been fabulous weather the past couple of days, and we are taking advantage of it by playing outside as much as possible!

Other than milestones and all kinds of firsts, this little man is such pure joy!  His smile is absolutely contagious, he's extremely ticklish, and his laugh is fabulous.  He LOVES his brother and sister, seems to put up with everything the two of them pull on him, and just seems to be a pretty stinkin' adaptable kid.  I've heard that's pretty normal with a third child.  They learn to be adaptable because of having to tote around or cater to the older two kids.  Whatever the case, he's a great baby.

I love this age too!  I just wish I could slow everything down.  Time seems to be going by so much more quickly this time.  Perhaps it's because of being focused on the other two kids as well.  Or maybe I just want to keep Isaiah little so that I can take it all in and treasure every moment, since he most likely will be my last baby.  I just love this little guy.  God is good and has blessed us to overflowing!