Happy Memorial Day!/A Weekend of Firsts

This past weekend we decided to take the opportunity of a free Saturday and Sunday where neither Robert nor I had to work and take Nicklas to the lake house with Nana and Papa. They just got the boat out of the shop (for some expensive repairs) and were ready to put it back in the water for the summer. The weather was rainy off and on but we were determined to get out. Sunday morning Nicklas slept past 7am, which he hasn't done in quite awhile except when he's at the lake house. I don't know what it is about the place, but he sleeps so well up there. Maybe we should just move...for the sake of our sleep!

The community where our house is in South Carolina has an indoor pool for residents and guests, so Sunday morning we played hooky from church (oops!) and took Nicklas for his first swim in the pool. Our first hurdle was trying to figure out a swim diaper, which reminds me a lot like underwear. Try putting that on a squirmy 9 month-old, which he promptly wet out the leg holes. They are not absorbent at all, which is good for in the pool, but bad for anywhere else! N wasn't too sure about the water at first, but once we discovered the baby pool he had the time of his life! Nana went along and took some great pictures. He kept trying to put his face in and then would freak out when he swallowed pool water...

Here N is flirting with this little girl who kept wanting to show us her scraped up knee from where "she didn't listen"...per her daddy.

We also decided to take N for his first ride on the boat. Law states that all riders must have a life jacket, including babies and kids, so we had to find one beforehand. They are not easy to find! (We got an extra one for Luke). Sorry to say we forgot the camera on the boat. Once Nicklas got over the fact that he HAD to wear the life jacket, which rode right up under his chin and he couldn't move his head around much, he seemed to like it. Me...I was terrified! I kept haven't visions of him falling overboard. But I wanted him to ride with us just bad enough that I decided to get over it.

N is just learned how to feed himself, which is cute to watch b/c most of the time the food misses his mouth and he just ends up eating his hands instead. I'm trying to faze out the baby food and give him mostly appropriate people food. His favorites are cheese, breads, pasta, graham crackers, Cheerios, peas and diced, cooked carrots. It's nice to plop some food on his tray and be like "here, entertain yourself while I cook mommy and daddy's dinner!"

He'll be really mad at me one day...

His new favorite thing to do is watch Sierra outside our back door. I couldn't get clothes on him fast enough, not even a diaper before he was over there again!

Kindermusik in Pictures

Every semester Kindermusik is over Ms. Dana provides all the parents with a disk containing the pictures she took of our children throughout the semester. I thought it was really neat to see how Nicklas has changed so much even just since January. Here's some good ones...

January 26th

January 26th

January 26th

February 2nd

February 2nd

February 17th

March 3rd

March 3rd

March 10th

March 10th

Nicklas is practicing his infant CPR

Can you guess how many kids cried after getting whacked with these beaters?

March 24th

March 24th

March 24th--the classic "What are you lookin' at?" pose

April 21st

April 21st

April 28th

New Year...New Job

After much patience and determination, Robert has been selected as the new assistant band director for Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, GA. Last night we went to their band banquet where we were introduced to many of the band parents and faculty/administration. Everyone was so nice and extremely glad to have Robert coming aboard; their band program is growing by leaps and bounds and they finally have enough students to warrant hiring another director. Although he'll only be 80% band director and 20% something else (general music, or something TBD) we're both so excited for this new job and the opportunities it brings.

It's so exciting to see a school where students get to see their friends get baptized on campus, where the band has a "chaplain" officer, and so many other things that don't take place in government-run public schools. I've been struggling with whether or not to place Nicklas in public school (yeah, I know, that's a long time from now, but I'm a worrier) and GAC will give the children of faculty a discount off their tuition if they want to attend. So there's a great option right there.

The downsides...Robert will now be commuting to Norcross for work in his eleven-year-old car that's been on its last leg for three years. My mechanic calls our Taurus "the Ghost" b/c it keeps trying to die but never really leaves. (Plus, it's white). Anyway, he'll have to deal with traffic on I-85, but will be done with school earlier in the day so hopefully will miss most of it. He will have to stay after school fewer days a week, but will now be responsible for helping with marching band and attending all football games.

Please keep us in our prayers during this transition period in our lives. I am also interviewing for a new position within my current job, but it will be full-time hours with a steady schedule, my own benefits and health insurance. After the summer is over we'll also have to worry about new child-care needs...


Aaagh! If you know me, you know I don't like change. So bring it on...I'm ready!

Why Bathtime is My Favorite Time...

Enough said?

What am I most thankful for?

Random middle-of-the-night thoughts bring me to this revelation...when was the last time I really thanked God for my many blessings? Yeah, I find some time to pray during my busy days and night, but not nearly enough. The Bible says we are to "pray continuously" and I must admit that I often "pray conveniently". So, as I sit here at 3am (yes, I'm at work), here's my list of my most precious blessings...some serious and some not-so serious :-)



Most importantly:

• My wonderful husband, who would walk through fire for me and our son.


• My son, his excellent health and budding personality, with all the challenges that brings.


• My salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ


• My family: wonderful parents, brother, aunts, uncles, in-laws, extended family, etc.


• The roof over my head and the food on our table


• Our Sunday School class family


• My closest and best friends who've always been there for me and still are (you know who you are)

The not-so-important (but I wouldn't want to do without):

• Jeans and T-shirts (I don't do ironing or dry cleaning if I can help it)


• Cereal, especially as a late night snack


• Tivo (guilty)


• Grilled cheese sandwiches


• Flip flops


• Sunscreen (I'm a natural blonde)
• Sound machine that keeps Nicklas asleep to ocean waves (trust me it works)
  

Spring Time

I finally found my camera! Yeah! (It was stuck inside my suitcase from when we went to Waycross last week...too bad I didn't know I really had it with me the whole time).

Mommy, why do I have to wear this stupid hat?

Today Nicklas and I went to the FBC Winder Spring Picnic. We had lunch outside on the grounds and listened to a local gospel quartet sing. I enjoyed the food and the music, and Nicklas had a good time. He's been very grouchy and clingy lately (I think he's cutting another tooth) so the distraction of all the other kids and the loud music kept him at bay.

This group has been together for more than 20 years!

Please be in prayer for us as both Robert and I are working on interviewing for new jobs, starting very soon. God's hand has been in several events leading up to this life-changing decision for both of us, and I hope that we continue to look to Him to make sure we're doing His will. It's much harder now to make decisions for our family since we're now responsible for another human life other than our own. I will post more details when we know more about what we'll be doing in the months ahead. And no, we will not be moving anytime soon...like we could sell a house right now! (Plus, I need my baby-sitter, a.k.a. mom, nearby!)

On a side note, Beach trip countdown....T-minus 49 days and counting!