Luke 2:19

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Luke 2:19.

I know the Christmas story, yet this particular statement was new to me. How could I have missed this before? Perhaps I had been too caught up in the birth to even recognize a powerful moment summed up in one sentence.

Being a mom, I can certainly better relate to Mary now than pre-kids. And having re-read this passage of Scripture while caring for an infant has brought new meaning and understanding to its significance. 

My favorite moments with Hunter are after he's finished eating. He could be asleep or awake; I treasure both equally. In those sleepy moments, he's snuggled up close, content, warm, and secure. How hard it is to put him down, even when it means I could then sleep! During those times when he's still awake, he gazes up at me, a gummy grin on his face, again, so happy, and secure in my love. Even as I write this, I feel inadequate at describing or capturing these moments. These are moments that I treasure and try to store up for I know that they are all too fleeting. 

And then I think about Mary. I can only imagine that she shared some of those same thoughts and feelings, coupled with an enormity I cannot comprehend: she cradled in her arms the Christ-child, God's Son, sent to save us from our sins. She probably didn't know how He would save us, but can you imagine how she must have felt knowing that her son eventually would save the world? Jesus, snuggled and cuddled close to Mary, probably felt secure, safe, warm, and content, just like Hunter does when he's in my arms. But could Mary have felt that same way about Him? What a strange and wonderful feeling that must have been, knowing that the same child who drew comfort from her would one day be her comfort and security. How many of us can relate to that? 

So as we approach Christmas, let us ponder the tenderness, the beauty of Christ's birth, and those fleeting moments in Mary's arms, and remember the loving gift God gave us in such a humble fashion.

Merry Christmas!

Having sent out birth announcements earlier this year, I decided to skip the traditional Christmas cards this season. (Plus, being completely honest, I just haven't had the time to get one together.) So, here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas blog-style.


If I were to send out a letter, it would probably list the highlights of the year, which might include...


*January: Scott and I traveled to Pittsburgh to watch the Caps beat the Penguins in the Winter Classic (outdoor hockey game). Go CAPS!


*February: Scott traveled to Haiti on a mission trip. While he was gone, Mel and Grandma came down to love on me and Leah.


*March: Leah turned 2!


*May: My dear friends from small group threw me a baby shower. In addition to my family and church friends being there, Megan and Jen Ann (two of my best college friends) were there.


*June: Hunter Logan arrived on June 24!


*July: We survived the transition of going from a family of three to a family of four.


*August: Scott played in the Police & Firefighter World Games up in NY City... the weekend of the hurricane. While he was away, the kids and I spent a week at Grandma & Papa's (Mel & Roger's).


*October: Scott and I celebrated seven years of wedded bliss. 

Yes, highlights are missing from a few months, but the blessed, daily family moments with Scott and the kids are too precious and too frequent to limit them to one month as a highlight. 

May your Christmas be joyful, memorable, and filled with many warm moments. 

Merry Christmas!

Five Months

Guess I should update Hunter's progress now, especially since his next milestone birthday is fast approaching (Christmas Eve).

Our little man turned five months old on Thanksgiving day. Based on his measurements during his four month check-up, he had to go in for a weight check to celebrate this birthday. Well, he's still in the 25th percentile for weight, which is fine since it shows that he hadn't lost any weight between his fourth and fifth months (he had dropped from the 50th to the 25th percentile between his second and four month appointments). Since we were there, I asked about Hunter not sleeping through the night yet. Unfortunately, the doctor said it could be because he's not getting enough to eat during the day. (Not exactly what this sleep-deprived mom wanted to hear.)

That being said, Scott and I decided to supplement Hunter with formula. Too bad Hunter hasn't agreed to this idea. (For some reason, lately he has refused the bottle, even though before he'd take it just fine.) Thankfully, after sharing all this with a friend, she shared how she had to feed her little girl every two hours during the day. Well, it was worth a shot, I thought, and so, our little man is now eating much more often. Though this does create some logistical issues at times (trying to feed him, run the errands, and get home in time for the next feeding), he seems to be doing better (evidenced by sleeping better at night). Hallelujah!

I'm sure that teething hasn't helped his sleeping habits at all. This boy is a drooler anyway, but now that he's working on some teeth, he's a faucet! His fingers are constantly in his mouth, unless mine or Scott's are available. I keep waiting for his "reward" for enduring all that pain, but it has yet to manifest itself.

Though some might not believe it (my family, who somehow only seem to see him when he's tired, and thus cranky, preferring mine or Scott's company and cuddles to anyone else's), Hunter is a happy, playful little baby who has a ready smile for anyone who wants to talk to/ play with him. His favorite activities include  playing in the exersaucer, grabbing big sister's hair or hands, one-on-one cuddling with me or Scott, and of course, rolling around on a blanket while playing with his toys. When he's especially happy, he'll tell us, delighting us with stories that only a baby could share. Oh how I relish those stories, cherish the one-on-one moments, and delight in his smile and laughter (which we hear on a regular basis thanks to him being ticklish... and thanks to us making silly faces at him).

Below are the latest photos of our little bug-a-boo. This momma's boy is a joy and a blessing, and is much loved.

 Happy Thanksgiving! Hunter has a thing about socks... he doesn't like wearing them. Notice also his hair. Scott has nicknamed him "Kramer" since Hunter's hair sticks straight up. But it's just so cute!

 We've started Hunter on vegetables, but you can see how he feels about them (or maybe it's about the pink Bumbo seat); he managed to grab the bowl and dump the contents all over.

The official 5 month photo. So cute! Don't you just want to eat him up?

A Disservice?

So, since Scott and I aren't exactly caught up with all the latest technology, does that mean we'll be doing our kids a disservice as they get older? It's not that we're opposed or afraid of all the latest advances; we're just not interested.

I asked myself this question the other day after my dad showed me his latest techie gadget: the Nook Color 2 (think that's what it's called). I've been thinking about e-readers, and whether or not that would be something I should save for. This isn't an easy decision, especially since I love the feel of an actual book. Still, if I were to enjoy the technological advances of today, that might be one that I'd actually use. Then Daddy showed me his Nook. Very cool. Very. Shocking as this might sound (especially to my friends who know how prehistoric I am), I could actually see myself using something like that. Even more, I could see my kids using it (supervised, of course).

One of the Nook's features is the read aloud feature for children's stories. Very cool (please excuse the overuse of this phrase. I'm sure it'll reappear several more times before I'm done writing.). Leah was enthralled. What little one wouldn't be, especially when it's a book on the computer (basically)? Plus, Leah could "flip" the pages. Seriously?! She's 2.5! (I know, this was rather eye-opening for me to observe since she doesn't get to "play" with technology that much, unlike other kids her age who are rather adept at using their parents' iPhones, etc.) Which begs the question posed above: am I doing them a disservice by not consuming all these advances?

I'd like to think not, especially since I'm not OPPOSED to said technology. We just don't have a need for it. Plus, we do allow Leah on the computer (we even have a kid-sized keyboard & mouse for when she's older) to play games. Right now, though, it boils down to whether or not she has to learn these devices now. Really, what's the hurry or need? By the time she can truly use many of them, the current technology will be obsolete. (Makes me think about how quickly the school computers (and floppy drives) became dated once jump drives burst on the scene.) Plus, like many kids, she's a fast learner, so when it comes time, she'll be ready to learn (and perhaps fully appreciate) the available technology.

Besides, she doesn't need anything too fancy right now anyway; after all, Christmas is coming, and I know that at least one gift will be more than enough technology for her.

A Little of This, and a Little of That

I've been racking my brain, trying to determine a post topic, and haven't had much luck. Could it be that there's nothing of note to post? Or maybe it's due to a sleep-deprived five months. (I think it's the latter, to be honest. Forming cohesive, coherent thoughts are a bit challenging these days.) So, just some random bits from our lives as of late.

LEAH: "It's kind of like... (fill in the blank)". She uses this phrase regularly, and we're not sure where she picked it up. What's funny, is when she uses it to make a non-comparison, like when describing her pink Barbie Jeep: "It's kind of like pink."
  (A note about this Jeep. Leah loves crawling on and playing in it, but she refuses to drive it. She'd rather Hunter "drive" it. Scott's been encouraging her-- when it comes to driving-- and he's making some progress, but she's not quite ready to venture out on her own. Is this a sign of what's to come when she's 16?)

Her imagination is taking off, too. Now we're often story or movie characters. As of this morning, I've been Cinderella AND Duke (from the Diggingest Dog). (For the record, she was the Fairy Godmother AND Sammy Brown.) Last night's roles took a new twist:
  Leah (to me): You be Cinderella, and I be the Fairy Godmother.
  Me: Who is Hunter?
  Leah: He's the Cat in the Hat.
  Me: Who's Daddy? Is he the prince?
  Leah: No, he's Scott (giggle, giggle).

 Generally speaking, I think Hunter resembles me more than Scott, but in this photo, I definitely see his daddy.

*I'm so thankful that I have at least one child who cooperates for photos these days, and no, it's NOT Leah. Trying to take her picture is like trying to walk a cat. Neither one cooperates. Go figure, then, that when my dad was taking pictures of Leah and her cousins in their Christmas pajamas for my parents' Christmas card, Leah was all smiles, and so cooperative. As soon as I tried, though, she immediately reverted to her too-busy-to-pose self. *sigh*

Thankful

Apparently, most FB users are giving thanks daily throughout November until Thanksgiving day. Considering my inability to check FB regularly, I thought I'd simply blog about twenty-four blessings for which I'm thankful. So below, in no particular order, is what I'm thankful for.

1. A relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose abundant grace covers all my sins

2. Scott, who brings a smile to my face, and who loves me deeply

3. Leah,  whose joyful and loving spirit warms my heart and makes me laugh

4. Hunter, my happy, cuddly baby boy who reminds me to slow down and play

5. My parents and their loving, constant support

6. My in-laws, who truly treat me and love me like a daughter

7. Baby Tylenol, the miracle in a bottle that provides sweet relief to my teething baby

8. Leah's imagination and the many worlds it opens to her ("Mommy, you be Duke --the dog--, and I am Sammy Brown" [From "The Diggingest Dog"] or "Mommy, you be Bob the Tomato, and I am Larry the Cucumber.")

9. A roof over our heads

10. The funds to pay for unexpected (but much needed) home repairs (the chimney comes to mind)

11. A full night's sleep (haven't had one since June 24, but boy, will I enjoy it when I do!)

12. Coffee. Caffeinated. (See why in #11)

13. Girlfriends, who offer encouragement, friendship, a listening ear, and advice (but only when solicited!)

14. Phones and email that allow me to stay in touch with loved ones who are far away (NY, GA, SC, NC)

15. Fresh air and sunny fall days

16. A clean house (working on that one this week)

17. A completed to-do list (yes, I'm Type A, though a mellowed out version thanks to the kids)

18. An engrossing book (Right now it's The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Who wants it next?)

19. Dark chocolate. (I can't believe I didn't mention that earlier!)

20. Baking. There's something comforting about whipping up a batch of cookies for my family or friends. The only drawback (no, it's not extra calories)? Sometimes I'll back instead of working on the to-do list (see #17).

21. Thanksgiving Day itself. Absolute FAVORITE holiday.

22. Scrapbooking. It's my creative venue and release

23. Fuzzy slippers or socks, comfy pajamas, and a roaring fire

24. The freedom to speak my mind and share my opinion without fear of repercussion

Four Months

Hunter turned four months old a week ago Monday. Four months! The time has certainly brought some changes, most for the better. Below, a run-down of our baby boy's progress.

*Hunter is cooing & laughing much more now. He loves interacting with us, especially Leah (that hasn't changed much). Peek-a-boo and patty-cake are two favorites of his. During dinner, he has to be at the table with us. Instead of sitting in the bouncy seat ON the table, he'd rather be on Scott's lap AT the table. He could be fussing in the bouncy, but as soon as Scott picks him up, he's all smiles. (The he proceeds to grin at me the rest of dinner. So endearing!)

*Physically, he can now roll over from back to belly. The first time he did this (a week ago today), neither Scott nor I saw it. I was making dinner, and Scott and the kids were in the office. While Leah & Scott played computer games (check out pbskids.org), Hunter entertained himself on his back on the playmat. When Scott turned around to check on him, there was Hunter, smiling, and on his belly! Sneaky boy! 

Hunter is also learning how to hitch. Leah was a pro at the army crawl (she was mobile by this age), but Hunter has discovered his own way of moving. He sticks his butt in the air, and then pushes with his legs. Of course, he needs the right motivation to do so. He only moved when he saw Daddy on the other side of the playmat. As soon as Scott moved behind him, he stopped inching along. See what I mean about social?

*Sleep is the only area that hasn't improved much. Lately, he's been getting up more and more often during the night. *sigh* I know that he'll learn eventually, but reminding myself of that truth isn't easy when I feel like I'm spending more time in his room than mine during the night. On the bright side, he is doing (a little) better about napping during the day so long as I put him down at the right time (as in, before he's overtired). 

One-on-one time with him is so precious, and he always rewards me with a big smile. When I feel frustrated that I'm not as productive as I used to be, being with him, hearing him laugh, and seeing his toothless grin remind me that he's much more valuable than anything else on the to-do list. What a joy and blessing he is!

 Four months old

 Future Warrior