Carnivore

I realized today that Mr. Newton really likes meat, which I think is kind of strange for a little kid.  At least I don't know that many kids that really like meat.  In the past few days I have noticed him scarfing down pulled pork, turkey, and rotisserie chicken.  I have actually had to cut him off so that he would eat from some other food groups in the course of the meal as well.

On second thought, maybe I should call him an omnivore because he sure likes his natural foods too....mulch, dirt, leaves....he eats it all.

The Orange Juice Saga

In Mr. Newton's 11 month post, I mentioned the beloved Orange Juice, his favorite friend to cuddle with.   Here is the story and the latest saga of our dear orange dog. 

We got Orange Juice at a bowling alley a couple months ago, out of one of those machines that usually takes all your money and leaves you empty handed.  You know, the one with the big claw?  Well, on his first try, Daddy got this orange dog for Mr. Mister who so aptly named him.  Mr. Newton discovered him a couple days later and they instantly became best friends.  Mr. Mister graciously gave him to his brother and everyone was happy.  

This is the best picture I have of the original Orange Juice.
Hard to see what he looks like, but the love is obvious.

Fast forward to last night, the fifth night in a row that one of our kids has been awake for much of the night. (both have coughs and ear infections!).  As Mr. Newton cried endlessly, we looked frantically for Orange Juice and couldn't find him anywhere.  We tried substitutes, but he threw every other stuffed animal to the side.  No one had ears as long and soft as Orange Juice.

Somehow, we made it through the night (actually, in desperation, we put him in his crib with Daddy's cell phone so he would be quiet and distracted until he finally fell asleep. I'm sure that is somewhere on the parent's list of things not to do, but at 3am we weren't very concerned with that list.)

So this morning, as my husband so graciously let me sleep a little longer, he set out to find this dog. We could not endure another night without him!  

First, he looked online for an easy replacement, only to find that this particular stuffed animal is only sold in bulk for vending machines.  So we'd have to buy 144 of them!  In retrospect, that might not have been a bad idea.

 Then, he retraced our steps from all of the places we went yesterday and landed on the possibility that he may have been left somewhere at Bass Pro.  Where else would we have been on Easter? 

But the nice lady who answered the phone at Bass Pro said that he hadn't been turned in.  So Daddy, in all of his determination, took both boys to the bowling alley.  This time he wasn't so lucky as to get another dog on the first try.  Twelve dollars in quarters later, we had another Orange Juice!  Last night, we would have paid $50 for a new one so $12 sounded like a good deal.

Orange Juice #2 looks a little different (the spots aren't quite as handsome in my opinion) but Mr. Newton embraced him with just as much enthusiasm and love.  I don't think he realized it was any different.

When they got home, I was changing Mr. Newton's diaper and in the short time with no diaper on, he peed right on the brand new Orange Juice!  That got him a bath and a trip through the dryer (the dog, not the boy).  All this work for a goofy looking orange dog! But Mr. Newton is happy and we will be happy if we get to sleep tonight.

 

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Trust

My husband and I have so much to learn in parenting.  We make a ton of mistakes daily.  We face a lot of challenges that we don't always know what to do with.  But one thing that I really love that we have taught Mr. Mister over the past couple years is that when we ask him to do something that he doesn't want to do or doesn't agree with, that he would say, "Okay, I trust you" and do it anyway.

We have used that phrase over and over.  More importantly, we have tried to teach him the concept of trust and the bigger picture behind the words in that sentence.  And finally, it is starting to pay off.  He is actually starting to say it without prompting.  Like when I told him we needed to eat lunch at the park before playing on the slide, he didn't whine or complain, he just turned around and said, "Okay, I trust you."  And we ate lunch.   Oh.my.goodness.  I never thought that would actually happen.

When he says he trusts me, I feel a physical sense of relief and peace. And I know it is hard for him to trust.  It is hard for me to trust God when things don't go exactly how I would have planned.  But what a beautiful picture of knowing that our Father always has our best in mind.

The other day we were getting in the Jeep and he asked if he could climb over the back seat to get to his car seat.  We said no, that he needed to just climb in normally.  And he said, "Okay, I trust you.  I know you have my best."   What a sweet reward and blessing to hear those words!

Now onto the one million other things that we don't have figured out.

Tough Guys

11 Months

I'm a little late on the 11 month post. Actually three weeks from today, this little man will be one! So hard to believe.

Dear Mr. Newton,

At 11 months, we can see big changes in you...the way you interact and communicate lets us know exactly what you are thinking. Your constant giggle is evidence that a lot of things in life makes you happy. And that makes us happy.

Your favorite things are dogs, water, and laying in your brother's bed. These three things bring extra smiles and laughter. You also love to cuddle with anything soft. And when you do, you automatically put your thumb in your mouth. Of course, your favorite huggie is Orange Juice, but I think I'll have to devote another entire post to that special orange dog. You sure love him. But if he's not right next to you, any stuffed animal will do!

 

You eat a lot. And you are messy. You want to feed yourself, even with a spoon, which results in some big spills and messes. But it's cute to see you try to use a spoon and then give up and just eat straight from the bowl. 

We love you! Thanks for bringing so much joy to everyone's life with your sweet smile and laughter!

Love to a Thousand Generations

A few weeks ago, I was at the dentist for a checkup at 7am and I found myself telling the woman who was cleaning my teeth that it was nice to be out of the house by myself.  Then I laughed at what I had just said.  An early morning dentist appointment was an escape.  I am remembering this scenario because today I was told that I have to get an MRI on my shoulder next week.  When the doctor told me that I could listen to music while laying down for 45 minutes, I thought, that sounds peaceful!  I might even take a nap!  

While my life might lack quiet (until 9pm...hooray for a quiet house!), it certainly does not lack fun, joy, and life. These boys are such gifts. I love the questions Mr. Mister asks as he learns so much every day. And I love the sound of Mr. Newton's chattering and giggling at everything he does.  I love how they both get so excited to go outside and how they laugh together in their room when they are supposed to be napping. And how Mr. Mister always wants one more Bible story.  And how Mr. Newton stops whatever he is doing and bolts to the bathtub when he hears the water start running. 

I could go on and on.  So even on a difficult day where it felt like I was doing nothing more than cleaning banana off the floor for the hundreth time and putting away the same things I thought I just put away, I know that this is exactly where I want to be and I know I am doing much more than these tasks. Today, on the verge of a breakdown, I put the broom down and imagined who these boys are going to be someday. I am sowing seeds into a far greater reality than I can see right now.  And that makes the seemingly mundane incredibly worthwhile. 

Yes, I'll take a quiet escape or a night out here and there, but I wouldn't take one hundred quiet days in exchange for the opportunity to love these boys and raise up the next generation of men who love Jesus...to leave a legacy through them and hopefully for generations to come after them. 

"...but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:6)

Road Trip

Last week we went on a fun road trip with some friends. We say we went to Gatlinburg, but I never really saw Gatlinburg, which was okay with me. We stayed in a cabin outside of Smokey Mountain National Park and did some hiking (as much as can be done in between nap times and with kids in backpacks). It was such a fun week with some really great friends. We came home encouraged and even more excited about the community that God is building here.

Most of our group. We were missing one family on this hike.

We hiked up to this waterfall.

Mr. Newton LOVES water and he wanted to splash in the waterfall.

Tuckered out after lots of fresh air and a long ride in the backpack.

Future buddies.