Family Update :: Maverick

{I think I am slowly coming back to blogging after my almost year hiatus!! I miss it, and i miss all the documentation! So, hopefully, I will be able to work it back into life.  Now, finally, let me finish our little family updates}

Sweet Maverick.  Funny man.  Life of the party. 

Silly goose.  Passionate. Mini-Chris - you are so much like your dad!

Independent. Hilarious.


You definitely live up to your name! Maverick.  You want to do things your way.  In your time.  Parenting you is a joy and a teensy bit difficult.  But, you are my firecracker, and I love that!  We've had some belly laughs together. 

 You can throw a good fit.

Some of my favorite things you say (in your husky little voice - it melts me):

"Oh mee-aann" (man)

"Inna give you a munchie kiss" (watch this little video to see what a munchie kiss is)



"Whas wong mom?!?" (If I say, oh no, or oh dear!)

"You ok? "- sweet boy, always checking on me or his siblings.

Funny things you do:
You will pretend fall or trip and then start cracking up. (think 3 stooges)

You love to wrestle with your brothers.

You love to give spontaneous hugs.  They are real, genuine, hugging with all you've got hugs.

You have the best cheeks to kiss on. 

When you smile, and you catch my eye, your whole face lights up.  I love that you love me so!

If either of your brothers are missing, you always seem to notice first and ask me where they are.

You are a special kid, Maverick.  You have a spark.  You are unique and passionate.  I can't wait to see these qualities develop in you, buddy.  I'm so proud to call you my son!

Family Update :: Crews

Crews,

Little love bug, also known to everyone as Crewsie Bug.

pic taken 7 months ago!  by Aunt Nancy Ray

Sweet boy who is so gentle and affectionate.

Here's a pic from my phone... a little more recent.  

You love giving kisses on the lips.  You look at me with intense eye contact and stroke my hair. Such a little love.  You take care of your Mama.

attacking Maverick with a kiss.  All of you do this to each other. Brother love. :-)

You love to practice whispering.

You and Harper and buddies.  You are always looking for 'Ha-pa.' 

melt my heart
pic by Nancy Ray

pic by Nancy Ray

You gave baby Haven the nickname Haby (rhymes with baby) when she came home from the hospital.   I guess 'baby Haven' took to long to say.  It stuck...we all call her Haby now.

You love crocs and have to have the yellow pair that used to be Harper's.

You are talking like crazy now.  You went from saying a handful of words to complete sentences.  I noticed it the week we brought Haven home from the hospital.  We had yet to introduce you to your new sister because the three of you were sick with croup.  However, not much gets by you!  As I was coming out of my room (where baby Haven and I were quarentined) you pointed to the door and said -'Dares a bebe in dare'  (there's a baby in the there).  I about fell over!  I clapped and cheered and picked you up.  You looked at me like I was crazy!  After all, you had been 'talking' for about 6 months now...only no one understood a thing you were saying!

I love when I ask you a yes or no question you usually look at me and nod and say 'Yaaaaa' with your quiet, raspy voice.

I love when you sing the blessing with Harper before meals.

You know all of your ABC's and can count to 20 and can spell you name!

When I call your name to come inside or downstairs, you yell out 'I comin'

If you hear someone crying, you run to them and say, 'whas wong?'

If you get in trouble, the first thing you say is, 'I deedn't dooo eeett' ( I didn't do it)...and it makes me laugh (terrible for disciplining).

Your baby teeth are so cute.

If you get hurt (even in the slightest way) you always want me to kiss whatever body part was hurt.  You will come running in from outside whimpering and pointing to your elbow, arm, finger.

Ridin on Mama's back. (I look all googly eyed)
You will bring me Haven's carrier and say, 'Crews ride on Mom, or 'Crews' turn'.  And I will carry you for about 10 minutes because you weigh about 35 pounds.  You never like for your turn to be over.  :-)

You are my buddy, Crews.  Affectionate and tender little man.   I love you so!

Mama

Learning

If you were to drop by my house at any random moment, my kitchen will more than likely look like this.

I think the blurry-ness of the picture adds to the chaotic feeling. :-)

And that used to stress me out to no end.  I want to offer a beautiful, organized home.  I used to have one.  A place where it looks like I was just waiting for you to drop by!  I want you to feel special!  A place where there is a cup of coffee waiting to be shared! 

Here is what the Lord has been showing me. 

People are more important than messes.

PEOPLE are MORE IMPORTANT than MESSES!!!

My children are more important that having a clean house.  ML, spend time with them and look in their eyes when you talk and not over your shoulder while doing the dishes.

Inviting friends over and sharing food and conversation is more important than having a beautiful {magazine-ish} home to invite them to. ML, invite your friends anyway!
  
Talking to and spending time with a friend or neighbor for the beautiful creation they are is more important than the {scary?!} mess in their life.  ML, call and talk anyway!  Even when it's uncomfortable.

People first, mess later.

When I remember back to when Jesus became my everything, I had a yucky 16 year old life.  Nothing to offer to my Maker, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, but a bunch of mess ups, selfishness, and vanity....yet, He loved me first.  He didn't wait for me to clean my mess up first.  In fact, His LOVE is what cleaned my mess up.  

When I meet people first, the mess isn't nearly as overwhelming as I thought it would be. 

 Thank you, Jesus, for seeing me and not my mess.

I'm still working on this daily.  It's a struggle to not cringe at the messes being created every second.  It's frustrating to get through half a load of laundry folding just to be stopped by a 'MA-MAAAAA!' (and then not finish that load until 3 days later) - I'm fighting to not ignore the MAMAAAAAA in order to finish that load.  I have to be flexible.  To be bent and molded and remade.  Not my expectations, but His.   Not my will, but His. 

People are more important than messes.

Oh, and please stop by!  Share that cup of coffee with me. I'm so *wanting* to welcome you to sit and visit with me for a while.  Just know, I might have to wash the cup first!  :-)

We love because he first loved us. 

1 John 4:19