No more thumb-sucking and snuggles at bedtime!

Jack has never been a snuggler.  I wasn’t sure if it was because I never really allowed him to sleep on me much because I feared he would not be able to soothe himself to sleep or if it was his nature.  Whichever it was  - it has changed!  The past two weeks, Jack has snuggled on me every night before bed and I absolutely LOVE it!  He lays on me and we just stare at one another.  Sometimes we play this little game where he makes a noise and I imitate it and we go back and forth for a while and then both end up giggling (heart = melts).  He has also stopped sucking his thumb!!!!  As much as I would NEVER wish a sickness upon my child, he has had a cold for two weeks and therefore, was unable to suck his thumb (due to a super congested nose).  It was the cure though – he seems to have forgotten just how much he loved and needed that thumb (oh did he ever).  I am thrilled because I would see it happening and have horrible flashbacks of my younger days having to have an expander (twice), braces and invisalign because I sucked my thumb till I was like 7 and shifted my bone!  I would imagine the difficulties of trying to get him to stop when he’s 2-3ish.  But, now I don’t have to!  (Let’s pray he doesn’t pick it up again!)  He now finds comfort in the silky edge of his blankie.  It’s funny how kids do that.  It just happened.  He just started holding it and putting it up to his face and calming down.  I love being his mommy and I love bedtimes with him.  

A New Look!

Okay, confession time: I have seen countless CUTE blogs and have never figured out how to make mine cute...and personalized!  Until today (thank you, Pinterest!).  The following blog helped me with my blog (oh I love blogs). http://blissfullydomestic.com/life-bliss/geek-life-bliss/how-to-make-a-blog-header-for-free/66333/

I tried other tutorials that used Picnik and other non-user friendly photo imaging programs.  Alas, my very own Picassa was my tool of choice!  I'm not computer savvy, but I felt like "okay, if they can do it, I can do it!"  Finally.  I have a few little tweaks and bugs to work out to make it exactly how I want, but here's the start.

Isn't it cute?

A new year

Three months later, here I am again with lots of updates! 

First – Jack is ALMOST 10 months old already!  He is pulling up on furniture, starting to cruise (walk along the couch), babbling lots of syllables like (baba, mama, dada and some other delightful gibberish), eating a great variety of food and has one little tooth that has poked up on the bottom (and one more coming in on top…but it’s not a front tooth – if these two come in he will look like a little pumpkin).  Oh, how could I forget?  He climbs up all our stairs now..and quickly! 

 He is my delight.  David and I always take a week to pray and fast at the beginning of each year to reflect on the past year and get vision for the upcoming.  I was looking through prayers and words God spoke to me about Jack and remembered that God said he would be a delight.  He really is.  Of course children are a delight to their parents, but this characteristic really stands out.  Last year was the best year of my life and I am so thankful to God for it.  It was a year of rest, clarity and air (I was actually able to stop, take deep breaths and enjoy life)!  It was amazing.  I am looking forward to another great year. 

We did a major overhaul on our home and are actually starting round 2 right now – I stripped our bathroom and guest bedroom wallpaper (ugly!) and we are priming it today.  More details to come.  It feels good getting this done and I LOVE having David around this January to help!  On one hand it’s hard that David doesn’t have lots of work each January (no one is thinking about landscaping right after Christmas in the coldest month), but it’s fun spending lots of time together and working on the house.

To end on a heart-note.  I was reading the word this morning and I want this verse to mark my life this year: “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.” Psalm 4:7  I desperately want God’s joy in my life to be far greater than enjoying anything on earth…wow.  Let it be!