The 29th is right around the corner so my “countdown to 30” installment for August will be here soon…be excited!

In the meantime here are a couple of quick snippets–

1) We went to a family reunion this weekend. The reunion part was so much fun and you should definitely check out pictures on Aimee’s blog. The roadtrip part was not so fun. We made the 6 hour trip down on Friday and back on Saturday. Wouldn’t have been so bad except for an oil spill and a bad wreck delaying us on the way there and the sub-par biscuits and one-star waiter at Cracker Barrel on the way back (no road trip is complete without a Cracker Barrell stop, but this one was one of my least favorites).

2) Thanks to Remotely Relevant Ramblings, I have a new and more efficient way of blog-reading. I know I’m probably WAY behind on this, but it is so cool to be able to read all of the blog updates on my favorite blogs in just one click. Be sure to follow her lead, though, on a resolution to still click over and comment.

3) As an addendum to my post about having little boys…
“Having boys means near death experiences that will scare the living day lights out of you (to quote my Grandmomma).” We were at a restaurant last night with friends and KJ was playing as we were about to leave. I looked over at him just in time to see him literally strangled by the rope he had been playing with. His face was turning red and he was not screaming for help, just staring at us wide eyed. I stood up and screamed while Ricky ran to rescue him. When they got back to the table, we were all in a shocked silence until KJ said “that hurt my neck” and I burst into tears. Praise the Lord that this story had a happy ending. We pretty much felt like parents of the year and are just so incredibly grateful that this will be a story we can laugh about later (much later). We STILL have a lot to learn about raising boys!

**Updated to add pictures

Yesterday, KJ came running saying “Cbug is eating paper”. I have a feeling that KJ actually fed Cbug the cute little scripture cards that we use as bookmarks. Don’t worry, I think I recovered most of the wad before it did any damage. Oh, boys will be boys.

Two of my favorite people are expecting their first boys in just a few short months. I get so excited when I find out that one of my friends is having a boy because they are just so much fun! There is no way to possibly prepare them for all that is headed their way, but it has made me think about all that having boys means. I know some of these could probably be applied to girls, too, but I wouldn’t know about that! Also, pretty much everything I’m going to list could probably be found on some sappy poster at Hobby Lobby, but I had fun just thinking about all I have learned and enjoyed about having boys. There are several of my readers who have WAY more experience on this whole raising-boys thing. I’d love to hear from all of you about what having a boy means at your house.

Here’s my wealth of knowledge (from a whopping 2 years of little boys) on what having a boy means…

-You are sure to find rocks in your dryer. This happened to me for the first time last week and SHOCKINGLY…I cried. It was such a milestone (no pun intended) for KJ. The first time he brings home rocks in his pockets.

– Crying at weddings every time the groom walks his momma to her seat.

– Endless games of every kind of ball, frisbee, chase or hide and seek

– Praying that sweat suits will come back in style for teenage girls (Becky told me this at a youth event just after her oldest son was born. I didn’t understand it at the time but boy do I now! Thanks, B!!)

– Building tall towers out of blocks, just to watch them crash…then doing it again.

– Bandaging lots of scraped knees, bonked heads, and smashed fingers (Here is KJ’s first black eye a few months ago)

– Being asked, in the sweetest voice, “Please kiss it for me” right before he runs off to try the same trick again.

– Getting funny looks in the nursery or bible class each week for the previously mentioned injuries.

– Feeling like you need to bolt down everything that should not be thrown

– Learning that sitting on the floor is an open invitation to be tackled or wrestled.

– Fine tuning your skills at stain removal

– Laughing until you cry, at least once a day

– Conquering your fear of bugs, and actually LOOKING for them!

– Acquiring important knowledge like whether the truck you just passed was a bulldozer or a backhoe

– Not being ashamed of making random animal noises or singing silly songs in public just to make him laugh

– Learning to pray in new way. (I remember a mom of a teenage boy once telling me that she often stood at her kitchen window where she could see her boys playing in the backyard so that she could watch and pray for their safety. I loved this because her boys were so tough and fearless.)

– Trying to learn when to rescue him and when to let him figure it out for himself.

– Debating each night whether you should wear a poncho for bathtime.

– Being so proud of his “big” accomplishments like going down the big slide, going under the water in the pool, or doing a flip.

– Actually loving the smell of a sweaty little boy because it means he’s played so hard and had so much fun! (And then there are the times when they decide to go swimming with their good clothes on)

– Getting a precious glimpse of what your husband might have been like as a boy

– Growing in love for your husband as you watch him play like a kid again!

– And most of all, having a boy means enjoying the special bond between a momma and her son. It just does not get much better!

I can’t wait to hear what some of you will add…

ABL

I know that you probably do not even recognize my blog these days, with the flurry of posting activity. Don’t worry, I’m sure it won’t last and the blog slacker you know and love will return.

Here’s a little bit of this and that…

– KJ is starting to really get the whole concept of telling us with words that he loves us. I love to hear him say “I love you so much” or to say “I want to hug you, momma”. But sometimes he gets a little creative. Here are a couple of conversations with him…
Momma: I love you, KJ.
KJ: Yeah, I love me, too.

(PREFACE: We frequently tell KJ that he cannot play with Mommy’s wedding ring because it is a special ring from Daddy that means he loves Mommy very much).
KJ: I love you, Daddy.
Daddy: I love you very much, KJ.
KJ: Where’s KJ’s special ring go?

– After this post, things have really improved when I go to worship services. I appreciate your prayers and encouragement. I think it is about 50/50 Cbug improving and my heart towards the situation being softened. It is also largely thanks to sweet friends who offer to help. Thanks, HC.

– KJ’s imagination is really starting to come alive. He used to just call his stuffed dog, “Dog”, his monkey was “monkey” etc. For the first time, though, he has given a name to one of his toys. The little man who sits in his helicopter is named “Friendly”. At first I thought he was saying “Freddy”, but he corrected me several times and we have established that his name is indeed “Friendly”. Friendly sometimes gets in trouble for disobeying his Mommy. I have to work hard to keep a straight face for that one.

– RRL and I have been talking about doing a better job of getting to know our neighbors. Anyone had success with block parties?

– When I got in my car this afternoon the dashboard registered 125 degrees. Once I got the AC cranked up it made it all the way down to 109. YUCK.

– I think it is so cute that KJ has started adding “I think so” to the end of responses when we ask him questions. It makes me think I probably ask him “do you think so?” a little too frequently and he’s just anticipating it. For example…
Momma: “KJ, where are your shoes?”
KJ: “In KJ’s room, I think so.”

-The only thing worse than baby spit-up is the spit-up from a baby who is eating solids…green and orange and all kinds of fun colors. I remember this with KJ, too, so I know it will pass but oh it is so gross.

– I know we are not alone in this struggle, but the price of gas is going to kill me…literally. Last week I filled up for the first time in a very long time (thanks to being out of town and RRL taking the cars frequently for fill-ups) and I just about had a heart-attack. Between that and the fact that our family easily buys between 2 and 4 gallons of milk a week…YIKES STRIPES.

– I am a self-proclaimed sap. The terrible thing is that I seem to always hear a sappy, make-me-cry song right as I am pulling into work. Nothing like showing up for the day with your mascara dripping. Check out these two songs (but grab a box of kleenex first). The first one especially is super cheesy, but you should expect no less from a sap.
1) Crystal Shawanda’s “You can let go“
2) Dixie Chicks, “Lullaby”
(I just like the song, this is not an invitation for a political discussion)

– RRL and I are moving towards a time of big transition with his job. Please be praying for our family, for those involved in the transition and for peace. RRL has done (and continues to do) an amazing job of leading us out in faith, but admittedly it is a little scary.

I know this has been random. That’s just how my mind works these days.
ABL

As promised, here are a few pictures from our first mission trip (Ruidoso) with the 10th graders.

What a great friend!

This may be one of my all-time favorite pictures. I love to watch KJ with his Daddy!

Cbug really did love VBS (sometimes).

Say CHEESE!

What an awesome group!

Great memories!

ABL

I’m not really a big birthday person. I mean, I appreciate that my family remembers my birthday and I do love a yummy cake or ice-cream cake, but I’m not really a “tell everyone and hope they sing to me in a restaurant” kind of birthday person. That said, I’m already thinking about my 30th (which is still 3 months away). Maybe it is because RRL and I are planning our birthday get-a-way; maybe it is because it is a big milestone; but really I think it is just because as a child 30 always seemed so grown-up and now it suddenly doesn’t. 30 does not really scare or depress me, it just amazes me. Can it be? Am I really old enough to be a mommy, a wife AND A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD? I do not really feel any different…I’m basically still 17, right?

While I’m thinking about ME, I thought I might just start blogging about ME. On each 29th between now and the big day, I’m going to blog a total of 30 random things about me. Thanks for humoring me, it has been a fun trip down memory lane.

We’ll start with a few “blasts from the past”

1) I once appeared in Seventeen magazine. It was a really small picture and not a great shot, but it was pretty cool, none-the-less. It was part of the High School highlight they used to do and they did a story about my high school.

2) I used to be a soccer referee for little kids. I loved helping them learn about the game and it was good money for a Saturday-only job in high school. KJ got his name because one of the cutest little boys that played. I did not ever really get to know him, I just liked his name.

3) In 7th grade I won the regional science fair for my experiment on how electro-magnetic fields affect the growth of vegetation (powerlines and plants). As a result, I got to attend “Environmental Camp”. It was totally as nerdy as it sounds and I loved every minute of it.

4) I had 11 bridesmaids (4 college roomies/friends; 3 childhood best friends; 2 sister-in-laws; 2 might-as-well be sisters that I babysat). I love each one of them so much that I could not narrow it down at all. RRL managed to come up with 11 attendants as well so we indeed had a “host” of witnesses clustered around us.
5) In middle school I won a speech competition in the humorous category with a Brer Rabbit monologue. Don’t ask- I don’t remember it. I do still love public speaking. Sometimes that makes me wonder if I just love the sound of my own voice.

6) My brothers and I used to love to play cowboys. I just had to put that so that I could include
this picture. It is my favorite of the three of us and still sits beside my bed.
7) My college roomie, M, was really the one who taught me that jogging could be fun. She and I had a goal to run all of the stairs in the coliseum. I think we only ever made it about 1/2 way.

8) I studied abroad in Oxford, England between junior and senior years of college. It was one of the very best things about my college experience. One of my favorite memories was that I got to go to Wimbledon. One other girl and I decided to go out to the campus to just look around while the tournament was going on in hopes that we could see something. After we bought our $2 tickets to get onto the grounds we met a very nice Englishman who offered to GIVE us his day passes for the rest of the day at CENTRE COURT! We got to see the men’s doubles finals. It was awesome…RRL, who actually likes tennis, may never forgive me (at least until I find a way to take him).

Stay tuned for “A bit about me”

While we were on the Nashville mission trip, we worked at a summer program for inner city kids. I was slapped in the face with something there that I was so amazed by. My boys have only really ever been around people just like them. I’m keeping a perspective here, I realize they are 6 months and 2-years-old, but still. KJ is really only friends with kids the same color as him, with the same general economic background and the same religious beliefs. While I was sad to admit that, it wasn’t the amazing part. The amazing part was that KJ waltzed into a room of kids VERY different from him in nearly every regard, and did not even notice. I was expecting some quizzical looks, some awkward questions, maybe a little intimidation. But not all… There were kids and there were toys and that was all he saw. My first reaction was to pull out the hand sanitizer, ask the kids to not touch the baby, and generally shelter my boys. KJ’s first reaction was to jump in and make new friends. C-bugs first reaction was to giggle at 5 new faces that were about 3 inches away from his nose at one time. I just stood back and watched and PRAYED. It sounds terrible, but I must say that my prayers in that moment started out something along the shallow lines of “oh, please don’t let my boys get sick; keep the germs away; keep them safe!” Over the week and slowly to even the point where I am writing this, my prayers have begun to change “Lord, let my boys know you more clearly; help them to always view their neighbor with the innocence of a child; let them never be afraid to get their hands dirty in your name; May they always be eager to open their hearts a bit wider to love a few more of your children; help me find ways to expand their view of the world around them”. I’m pretty sure I need to say a few prayers, too, about my own attitude in the situation. It was not a pleasant experience to realize how much I have to learn about the way I view people and the way I serve the Lord.

What a big responsibility it is to be a parent! In the very moments when I feel like I’m a pretty amazing mom (like taking my kids on a mission trip), the Lord shows me how much I have to learn (like the fact that prayers work better than hand sanitizer). I sure have a lot to learn.

ABL

During the craziness that was our summer, C-bug turned 6-months-old. We just went in for his check-up and he is doing so well. We continue to be amazed at how much bigger he is than KJ was. He is a good 6-8 months ahead of KJ in size at this point, weighing in at nearly 18 pounds. He continues to be so full of personality and rarely does anything 1/2 way. When he rolls over, he rolls across the room. When he laughs, he belly laughs. When he smiles, it covers his whole face. When he talks, he makes sure everyone can hear him. And like I’ve said before…when he’s mad, WATCH OUT! We’ve recently started adding more foods to his routine and it has made a huge difference in his temperament. He goes longer between meals, takes better naps, and just generally is happier! Poor baby was just hungry.

I love this little guy more and more every day.

ABL

The theme of this year’s Summer Spectacular was Jonah and the Whale. We certainly LOVE “Miss Patty” and “Miss Mindy” and all the other amazing people who make our children’s ministry and nursery absolutely amazing. If you ladies have any doubt that the lessons of the week were fully absorbed by those precious little hearts, just ask KJ about Jonah and the Whale…it is his new favorite story. So much so that there is a precious lady that lives next door to my parents who shall from here forward, thanks to KJ, always be known as “Miss Jonah” (her name is Jo).

According to KJ, Jesus lives in “Nashville”. Nonna and Papa J live in Nashville. Therefore in his little mind all planes, trains, boats, helicopters, and school buses are headed to Nashville. Naturally, where else would Jesus live? One of our new best buddies from the Ruidoso mission trip was trying to teach KJ that Jesus lives in his heart. We’d talk about it over and over during that week. It didn’t stick. As we believe that Jesus lives everywhere (including Nashville) we haven’t forced the topic yet.

We worked with an amazing group of 9th (going into 10th) grade teens in Nashville and for the week they really did show the heart of Jesus to those we worked with. I could not have been prouder.

Sorry I’ve been a bit absent from the blogging world. Oh the life of a YM’s wife…summer is crazy. There are so many of you that I think about and pray for during the summers because I know what it means for you and your kiddos…Chris and Martha, you have especially been on my mind with your THREE little ones and hubbies so busy! Love you both.

The boys and I went on two of the teen mission trips with RRL this year (insert the “I must be crazy” speech here). We had lots of help from adult sponsors and teens, though, so it really was not as bad as I thought it might be to travel for 10-12 hours with the boys. I will say that I would not necessarily recommend that you spend 6 nights with two small children in a dorm room with community bathrooms unless you have lots of help (like I did). We went to Nashville and Ruidoso and had a blast. I learned a lot through the eyes of my 2-year-old along the way. Some funny (like the fact that Jesus lives in Nashville) and some serious (like the fact that prayers work better than hand sanitizer). I’m going to do a couple more posts of the highlights so stay tuned. I’ll end with pictures (in a few days, when RRL can show me where they are).

ABL

Ask KJ how old he is and he will be glad to tell you “I be two” while working hard to try to hold up just the right number of fingers. Our little man turned two almost two weeks ago and while we definitely celebrated (a couple of times), the important day went by unrecognized in the blogging world…sorry, buddy. I’m sure more of the “terrible twos” may be headed our way, but for now I love having a two-year-old (most days). He comes up with the funniest things to say and do and we are always laughing. Yesterday I was taking a rare opportunity to lay in his bed with him while he was going to sleep for his nap. All of a sudden he rolled over, held my face with his two little hands and very urgently declared “i want pancakes…ok, mommy? Pancakes. Ok!” What a funny boy! Another of my recent favorites- We were all 4 in KJ’s room one afternoon. RRL and I were talking or something and not completely paying attention to the boys. Suddenly we heard “ride, ride, ride”. C-bug was laying on his stomach and KJ had straddled him, was holding on to the back of C’s shirt collar and going for a ride. Oh, what a mess.

Here are a few pictures from our recent bday celebrations.

Peanut,

On your second birthday, I want you to know that you are such a joy to your Daddy and me. We love the way you always make us laugh, are ever ready to smother us with hugs and kisses, and how you are quick to apologize when you know you have hurt us. Your baby brother already looks up to you and adores you. It is amazing to see how he watches everything you do and can pick you out in a room. So many others love you, too, friends and family alike. When you walk through the doors at church, more people recognize you than they do your Mommy and Daddy. As your little blond head prances down the halls and you show us “this way, that way” to go to class you leave a trail of smiles. One of my favorite things about your birthday party was how you displayed such pure joy at every single present anyone gave you…each was your very favorite. You seemed to know, already, how to show your gratitude and make the giver feel so appreciated. I am already praying that you will always bring that same sunshine and joy with you wherever you go and that you will never grow too old to use your gifts to make others feel welcomed and loved.

You are learning so much right now. I love that you light up when you count or say your ABC’s or spell your name. It cracks us up when you tell us “Mommy name is A____, Daddy name is R____”. It is not enough to see a truck, you like to know exactly what kind it is and that makes me smile (and also brush up on my construction trucks knowledge). I love that when we go the park to climb and run and play you come home sweaty, dirty and smelling like a little boy. You tell us all the time that you can do it “by self” as you climb to the tallest slide or eat your favorite foods or brush your own teeth. And indeed there are more and more things that you can do all by yourself now than you could one year ago.

As I think about the year coming between now and your third birthday, I know you have a lot more to learn. We’re working on listening and obeying on the “first time”. Sharing with friends and especially your baby brother are going to continue to be tough lessons to learn. And who could forget that we’ve still got potty training ahead of us! Above all, though, I pray you will continue to learn more about our sweet Jesus. I love to hear you tell about Jesus riding on the donkey or to tell me you are ready to go to class to learn about Jesus. I love to hear you pray “Thank you God for this day” and recite the things you are thankful for. It is so special to me to hear you sing “God is so good” and other songs you’ve learned in chapel. Your sweet voice singing about Jesus nearly brings me to tears. But baby boy there is so much more to know about Him. Thank you for being such an inspiration to me to want to learn more about Him, too. Your Daddy and I can’t wait until the day that you accept the Jesus you are learning about as your personal Lord and Savior.

Thank you, KJ, for all you do for our family, for the joy that you are and for the way you make me want to be so much more.

I love you,

Mommy