Finally Friday

Today is finally Friday! There is something about a Friday that just makes you want to shout!!! Literally jump up and shout!!! This week has been very hard in Carson's Corner. In fact, I'm suprised I didnt think about setting him in a corner this week. I did threaten a poke with a sharp stick (my dad's favorite line). Any way today, I am rejoicing. This week has been hard... but this week is almost over. Like every other week before it... It will be gone.

Time flies too quickly as you are raising a child. I am in shock that our little boy is not so little (23 lbs.) and is getting in his big boy teeth. Soon ( 8 weeks away) our little boy will be the big brother as we welcome little boy#2. All of this happened way too quickly. I'm picking out the double stroller, sewing baby blankets, and starting to waddle. All the while Carson is beginning to say more words, crawl better, and navigate me to Target's snack bar so that he can have popcorn. I'm not kidding ---- the boy points and directs me by grunts how to get there as soon as we enter the store. :)

He also has turned into the biggest flirt in town. I told Bob today that he is not allowed to take Carson out without me. The girls flock him. As we were eating our lunch every waitress in the restaurant came over to tell their little buddy, "hello". To which he can now wink and blow kisses. The other night we were out with our Pastor and his wife. As the waitress is clearing the table I notice Carson's hand is pinching her hiney. Of course I'm bright red and embarrassed as I grab his hand and apologize. That's one of those stories I'm going to tell at his wedding and embarrass the socks off him. Payback.

So amid the terrible teething we have had some fun. What a blessing to just stop and realize how special and amazing and wonderful he is. How different he has made life, and how happy we are to be his parents. So happy Friday everyone!!! Congrats on another week completed.

These pictures were taken last week, but made me smile and encouraged me through this week. 

baby bump sighting. :)

The gift of time

Lately I have had the joy and pleasure of meeting together with some other moms. Most of these moms being new (newborn- 6 month old)  moms. Now I am no seasoned veteran with a 15 month old, I am a new mom myself but it has definitely become apparent that there is a difference now in my attitude and in my approach than there was a year ago. It has been a pleasure in conversations to have the "been there, done that" experiences. It has cracked me up and cheered me up.

For instance-
Nursing/ feeding- What a roller coaster this was with Carson. Formula/ breastmilk every 3 hrs. The spit-up battle. Now he eats table foods and he has the understanding that enables him to wait for his meals.

Nap/ bedtime schedules- AAAAHHHHHH What is that I thought in the beginning. Now Carson has a very good scheduled bedtime routine and he also takes great naps.

Now we are still in a extreme process of learning and adjusting and working out the balance; but how different it is at 15 months than it was at 3 months. 

Today I also met a precious lady whose daughter has spina bifida. Her daughter is 35. It is so wonderful and so refreshing to talk with someone that has been there and can understand and can give you encouragement.

The one thing that has so efficiently dawned on me is how much of a gift time is to us. At 3 months old I remember all to well how scared and fearful I was. How insane I was with all the ups and downs of having a newborn. especially having a newborn with spina bifida. There was no real schedule, there was no guideline, there was no experience on my part. Everything was trial and error.

I was afraid to hold Carson at times... and then certain positions were an absolute no. I thought I would hurt him. I was afraid to let others hold him. I really thought that the scar on his back would just pop open and we would have cerebral spinal fluid all over the place. I thought it he cried for too long then the pressure in his head would cause the fontanel to explode. :) and then don't even get me started on how germ-infested everything is and how he must not come in contact with any germs.

Time... it has changed so many things.

Patience is not a virtue I possess. I am awful. I want instant results. I want to know what is going to happen and how. But that is not the Lord's intention. Nor is it what's best for us. Time is His gift to us

  "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: " Ecclesiastes 3:1
   " He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. " Ecclesiastes 3:11

Time has comforted my fears
Time has strengthened me
Time has encouraged my heart
Time has motivated me to continue
Time has taught me in so many ways
Time has opened my eyes to blessings

Time has been on my side. Time has flown too. I remember all those sleepness nights with a newborn and how I thought they would never end. Now I realize it passed too quickly. My Carson is becoming a little boy and he is doing it way too quickly.

Soon we will have Silas joining us and things will change. Boy will things be changing. :) I have had so many people lately wonder why we didn't wait longer to have our second child. Why didn't we allow more time. Wait till he was more independent, more mobile. Maybe things would be easier if we had waited. I can't say when the perfect time would be. In fact, I don't know that I could ever conclude the perfect time in my own thinking. All I can say is that I know this is in God's timing. It is not going to be easy, I know that. But more importantly I know that time will once again bring it's precious gifts.

Give Love

Many of you have already seen this--- Isn't it so perfect!!!!! 


For those of you who have not seen this I wanted to share it with you. SO Perfectly said!

Because it's February.

Because I just decorated my house in pink and red hearts.

Because Valentines are not just for couples...but friends, mommies, daddies, siblings, classmates and neighbors.

Because everybody needs love. And not the romantic comedy, butterflies in your stomach, plucking petals off daisies kind of love.

They need the "I'm yours forever" kind of love.

The "we can do this together" kind of love.

The "can't stop starring at you" kind of love.

The "I'm always there for you" kind of love.

The "I can't keep myself from smiling around you" kind of love.

The "I promise to make time to laugh with you" kind of love.

The "everything you say is so important to me" kind of love.

The " I couldn't be prouder of you in this moment" kind of love.

The love that lifts you up....

Squeezes you tight...

Makes even hard times feel alright..

The love that teaches you all that you need to know...

And gives you support you need to grow...

The undeniable you were made for me...

And together we make a family...

What's mine is yours...

I treasure each kiss...

And everyone deserves to feel like this...

Kind of Love.

Because real love can never be truly expressed in the form of greeting cards, chocolates, flowers, or jewelry. Those sweet tokens and gestures give momentary happiness - but it's the feeling love behind them that really means anything at all. So with that in mind, and in the spirit of this holiday of love - I would like to propose the perfect gift for your loved ones.

Give Love.

You can bring joy and love not only to those who hold your heart -

 but to another who needs your help.

Give Love.

By helping one little boy come home to the family who is waiting to give him this kind of love. The kind of love we are blessed to already have. 

The kind of love he deserves.

Give Love.

Shea's story is a remarkable one - and it is only just beginning. He now has a familyready for him - and Shea is WAITING to come home. His family is actively completing the adoption process - eager to give Shea the love, support and care only a family can give. The only thing we can do to help them bring Shea home as soon as possible is to GIVE. 

Give what you have.

$5, $25, $50

It's not the size of the gift, but the size of the heart behind it.

GIVE LOVE.

It is so costly to adopt internationally - so much so that many people say "we can't afford that" or "it's just not possible for us". But this family has given everything they have not once, not twice, but 3 TIMES (read their blog - they are an amazing family)and is making that leap of faith to make Shea a part of their family - but they need help raising the last bits. (And in adoption language, "bits" = $9,000!) 

They need our HELP!

As a friend so honestly reminded me " Let's face it ... we all spend/waste $$$ on this every year. The chocolate is gone...the flowers die... and all you have is a distant memory of the token(s) you invested in." How much more meaningful - how much more noble - how much more truer to what love is all about - to give that money instead to this family - to this little boy - to bring him home - to give him Love.

So help share the love...with Shea. :)

Isn't that the most adorable Valentine ever?!

It's message is simple - it's purpose sincere.

Make a donation (even just $5!) in the name of a friend or loved one - to Shea's Adoption Grant (through the chipin on the right hand margin of this page) or visit hisfamily's blog and donate through their chipin (it all goes to his account.) Then print out these adorable Shea Valentines (see Donation Gift Cards for the printable link) and give them to your sweetie, your sister, your mother, your friend - and see their faces light up at the sweet face on the card.

I can't think of a sweeter, kinder, more beautiful way to Give Love.

Can you?