Guess Who's Two??

                                        MY LITTLE BOY IS TWO!!!!

                              

 

I cannot believe that Caleb is already two.  He was only two months when we moved to Malaysia...the time has gone by soooo fast!

We didn't do much yesterday to celebrate.  We had to work AND the dorm was off of school for Malaysia's Labour Day, so we really had no time to do anything as a family.  Jason and Alaina filled Caleb's bed with balloons in the morning which Caleb LOVED.  They had a blast playing in there!  And then in the evening we had cupcakes with the dorm.  Not much, but at least we were able to acknowledge it was his birthday.  We'll celebrate for real on Thursday (our day off). We'll do presents then and have his cake and just enjoy being together.  I love this little guy!

Things around here are pretty good.  We've been super busy but still having a good time.  Alaina and Caleb have both adjusted really well to having little Levi around.  the first week or so was a struggle for Alaina, but she seems to be doing much better.  I LOVE seeing the kiddos all interact.  Even now, Alaina and Caleb are int eh other room watching Higgly Town Heroes together.  They are sitting right next to each other, faces glued to the T.V.  They really, really love each other and I really, really, love that!  I can't wait to see how Levi fits into this mix.

Lots of people have asked about what Levi is like, about his personality. I have to say he reminds me A LOT of Alaina as a baby.  He LOOKS like her and he ACTS like her.  He is so alert (when he is awake).  He loves to just look around and soak up everything.  Sleep wise, he has been doing great, too.  He's up once or twice in the night, eats, and then goes back to bed.  I've been able to sleep until 8 or 8:30 every day which is nice (especially because we get to bed late because of the dorm).

As far as the move goes, we haven't really even started making plans.  I did book our plane tickets so I DO know that we will be arriving in Detroit on July 4th.  We decided to stay a few weeks after the end of the semester so that we don't have to have everything packed and ready to go at the same time we are trying to get the dorm shut down.  So, we'll send our freight about a week after the semester ends and then we'll have about 2 weeks to unwind and enjoy some fun times in Malaysia.  Okay, so, July fourth... (crazy day to travel!)  All I have to say is that I hope Fazoli's isn't crowded because that's where I am headed!  For all of you who are not fortunate enough to know what Fazoli's is, it is an Italian fast-food restaurant that I LOVE.  The breadsticks there are the best things I think I have EVER put in my mouth.  And then I dip them in ranch dressing and...ohhhh..my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Anyway, back to the move.  So, I have plane tickets.  Now we need to contact shipping companies to figure out how mush we are taking back with us.  Once I know that, I can actually start packing.  Ahhh...packing...becoming on of our specialties. If only someone paid us to do it.  Every year that we have been married (six) we have moved.  Every year.  And the crazy thing is, only ONE time did we know the whole time we would just be a year.  All the other times it was a total surprise.  We haven't changed jobs that much, but we have changed houses.  It's a lot of work but at least we get to clean out and pare down! 

So the next few weeks should be fun.  A few fun things are going on.  First, Jason's brother Josh is coming to visit for three weeks.  We have NEVER had anyone come to visit us so it will be fun to experience Asia through the eyes of our family.  Second, I am part of a HUGE digital scrapping event...the ULTIMATE DIGI SCRAPPER contest!  DIGISCRAPPIN is hosting this amazing contest.  It will run for five weeks with new challenges each week.  There will be over $1800 worth of prizes!  It's unreal...there are 377 people entered!  It is going to be SOOO fun!  Of course I am not in this to win...there are some AMAZINGLY talented women in this group that I don't hold a flame to.  But, I think that like most of the women in the contest, I am hoping that it will challenge me, stretch me, and make me grow as a scrapper.  Most of all, I want to learn to be more comfortable being ME when I scrap...not feeling like I have to do things the way others do them, feeling comfortable in my own totally eclectic style.  I don't want to scrap in a way that I think the judges will like, I want to scrap in a way that I like.  So anyway, this should be a blast and I can't wait to see who the ultimate digi scrapper will be.  I have my own personal vote, so we'll see if I'm right.  377 people is A LOT!

Okay, a few new LO's before I go.

JOURNALING READS:  "Sometimes I find myself still in awe that I have a little girl.  For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of having a little girl of my own...of being known as mama to a sweet little girl.  When I was pregnant with you, I knew you were going to be that dream come true.  Not because a doctor told me (which no one ever did) but because I could feel it in my heart.  And when I heard those magical words in the delivery room, “It’s a girl” I finally let myself feel the weight of the dream I held for so long.  And even now, almost three years later, I am still filled with all the joy of that moment.    I want you to know, Alaina, that being a girl is special.  You are not a boy.  God designed you as a girl and with all the wonderful gifts and blessings that come with it.  From the moment you were born, being a girl has defined you.  Don’t ever be afraid of that.  Don’t ever let the world tell you that it doesn’t matter, because it does.  Are you better than a boy?  No.  Are you different than a boy? Yes.  God has designed you in a specific way for a specific purpose.  Embrace your femininity without flaunting it.  Enjoy the things you excel at as a girl and accept the things you may struggle with.  I couldn’t care less if you are a girl who gets dirty, plays sports, and likes to catch frogs (I did all those things!) Being a girl doesn’t mean lace and frills, but it does mean that you get to carry that feminine mystique that for centuries has intrigued many.  You get the wonderful gift of hopefully becoming a mother one day, of feeling new life grow within you.  The most special part of being a girl, though, is the gift of showing the world a part of Christ’s personality.  While your brothers will carry the warrior heart of God, you will carry his tender and compassionate heart.  Embrace this calling and privilege and never be ashamed of what or who God has made you."

Journaling Reads: "If someone would have asked me a while ago what my biggest fear was, I don’t think that I would have had an answer. I suppose I don’t usually ponder questions like this.  But the other day, a great fear enveloped me.  And I have to admit, it is a selfish one.  I know now, more than anything, I fear not being able to see my children grow up.  I fear something happening to me and I miss watching these three miracles experience all the joys and struggles that life will bring them.  If I were less selfish, perhaps my fear would be that they wouldn’t grow up at all -- that something would happen to them.  Of course, I can’t even begin to imagine the anguish I would feel if anything did happen to one of them. 

But the fear that grips me now is that I could miss it...that I could miss the moments...all the firsts.  First steps.  First “I love you.” First days of school. First dates. First grandchildren.  I am afraid I won’t be there to hold them and comfort them when they encounter their first bully, the first fight with a best friend, the first heart break.  I am scared that I will miss the milestones... graduations, marriages, babies of their own.  For me to imagine not being there to experience these things with them brings tears to my eyes.  Of course, my prayer and hope is that I will be there.  That I can be the mom who is their to help heal a broken heart, the mom who cheers the loudest at the soccer games, the mom who helps her daughter find the perfect wedding dress. 

And so my sweet children, know tihs. If I can’t, if for some reason God calls me home before I can experience all these things with you, always know that your mom loves you deeply.  Know that your mom aches deeply with a fierce devotion to you.  Know that I long to be with you through all times, good and bad. Enjoy the good times.  Learn from the hard times. And embrace all the lessons that life has to offer you.  I love you."   

Okay, that's all for today.  Have a great day (or night, depending on where you are!)

Comments

[Shabby Miss Jenn]

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LITTLE CALEB!!!!!! What a wonderful day you had!!!!!!! Smoochies!!!!

Janet this pages are GORGEOUS! WOW girl! You are sooo gooooood!!!!

[Kellie]

Such a cute little boy! Love the layouts, and I can totally relate to your fear! I used to have no fear at all of dying, but now when I think of not getting to watch Jack grow up, for him to not know me or know how much I love him, it makes me drive slower, eat healthier and just plain be more careful all the time, LOL!

[Erika]

Hey! I hope this is your last packing for a while! What is your "name" at digiscrapping? I want to see your layouts for the contest . . . good luck!