Sunday, September 23, 2012

15 months (a month ago!)






 
 
 
 
Thank you, Maria, for some wonderful pictures!  We absolutely love them!!  Some facts about Ashton at 15 months old:
 
-32" tall
-24 lbs. and 9 oz.

-Favorite food: grilled cheese - I sneak veggies in there :), yougurt, BBQ chicken
-Favorite fruit: bananas, peaches, kiwi
-Least favorite food: cottage cheese
-Words he is saying: wow, da-da, mom, cheese, fishies, go
-Favorite thing to do: play outside
-Favorite book(s):  First Words Picture Book - Where is Baby's Valentine - Let's Go to the Farm
-Sleeps from about 6:30pm to 6 am with one nap in the morning (we try the afternoon naps but for the most part he just sits in there and talks to himself!), needless to say, he is very tired by bedtime.
-Drew and I got new bicycles and a "pull-behind" rider for Ashton - he has the BEST time back there
-Loves to give kisses and is starting to cuddle with us more!  He went through a little phase where cuddling was not so much his thing : (
-Ashton is a very energetic and happy boy!  We fall more in love with him and his personality every day.  He is such a joy to be around and is grow up to be a wonderful little boy!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I am reminded

So on the way to drop off Ashton at my mom and dad's house (she watches him on Thursdays while I work), I heard a song, one that I have heard before, and it shed some light on my previous couple of days and previous blog post.  It is by Steven Curtis Chapman and the song is called "Do Everything".  The first couple of verses and chorus go like this:

You're picking up toys on the living room floor for the 15th time today
Matching up socks
Sweeping up lost cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip
Color on your lips and head out the door

While I may not know you, 
I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes, does it matter at all?

Well let me remind you, it all matters just as long
As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you,
Cause he made you,
To do
Every little thing that you do 
To bring a smile to His face
Tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

No matter how monotonous my days at home may seems, I am living for the Lord.  As the lyrics remind me, I need to bring a smile to His face with every thing that I do; even though it may be picking up Ashton's toys, cleaning his high chair tray, wiping a runny nose, laundry, making dinner, etc.  Each day is a gift and I need to treat it like that.  Ashton doesn't know the difference between what we did one day versus another.  I am humbled that I get to experience such change in Ashton day after day.  He is truly a gift!  Everything is so new to him; he is constantly learning.  I am learning to not get caught up in the daily routine and be excited for what each new day brings.   

 "Little stuff
Big stuff
In between stuff
God sees it all the same"

God's grace is something God does for the benefit of His people just because He loves them, not because of something they have done to earn it.  In my day to day life, I have to realize that God is here to help me and I need to accept His help and His grace.  These are beliefs and values that I want to instill on our children and I hope, by the grace of God, it will be accomplished!

In writing this post, I saw something on Facebook totally made sense to me and is said perfectly:

you will never have this day with your children again.  tomorrow, they'll be a little older than they were today.  this day is a gift.  breathe and notice.  smell and touch them; study their faces and little feet and pay attentionRELISH THE CHARMS of THE PRESENT.  enjoy today, mama.  it will be over before you know it.  (jen hatmaker)


Monday, September 17, 2012