Sleepless nights

Exhausted!?! Yes...we are. We decided to go on a small trip this weekend to Cleveland, TN. Some friends of ours invited us to come down for a conference and so off we went. We left Franklin around 4pm on Friday afternoon, grabbed a quick bit to eat at Applebee's and headed to the Conference which started at 7pm. We didn't really think the whole thing through, we were just excited to be in God's presence. Avery was a champ. He normally goes to bed between 7:30-8:30 (remember he's inconsistent so its never the exact same time) so I wasn't sure how he would be at the service. He loved the music and much to my suprise did not get cranky at all. He finally feel asleep around 9pm in the moby (which did not fare well for us the remainder of the night) and slept until we left around 9:45 and headed to the hotel. I have to confess I did something I should NEVER do and have fussed at my husband for even suggesting. The hotel was only like 1 mile away so I left him in the moby instead of putting him in his carseat...shame on me...I didn't want to wake him up but that is no excuse. Don't worry I have already reprimanded myself and will not do it again (mainly because he woke up right when we pulled in anyway).

Ok so then he was up...and I mean up. He was laughing and talking and I guess thinking it was the start of his day. So we played with him a little while hoping he would start gettin tired. Finally a little after 11 I nursed him and laid him down, crossing my fingers that he wouldn't pick tonight to cry for 2 hours (since we were in a hotel). No such luck...so I did the unthinkable...put him in the bed with us ( I did a lot of no no's this weekend). Which usually works and he goes right to sleep but NOoooo not this night...not the night we are in a hotel and the whole world can hear him. I think he maybe feel asleep for an hour and then we were up with him until 4:30 when I finally made Zac get out of bed and we put Avery in the car and started driving. Normally Avery hates the car but we had no other choice and thankfully for us he was so tired he fell asleep in about 5 mins (5 mins of all out screaming which I hadn't let him do in the hotel so as not to wake up everyone). So back to the hotel we go praying that he will stay asleep....nope. But lucky for us he was to tired to put up much of a fight and we layed him in the bed with us until we had to get up around 8:45.

The next day he was a jewl though. We went to two more sessions at the conference and he wasn't cranky or fussy. Silly boy just didn't want to sleep, afraid he might miss something. I will add other than the sleepless night we had a great time and really enjoyed the conference.

Oh and the whole reason I wrote this was because Avery was still asleep at 6pm tonight from his nap and I went in to wake him up and he was so out of it I just couldn't bring myself to wake him up. So I just snapped some sweet sleeping pictures instead and let him be (hope we are not up for a late evening).

Sleep for everyone? Not according to Avery!

Some days my son just does NOT want to sleep. Take for instance monday...he would not take a nap all day (and we were having pictures taken that evening of all days!). Then when putting him to bed that night I thought for sure he would go right to sleep. But NO, he cried for at least an hour and a half before finally falling asleep. He wasn't really fussy during the day, he just WOULD NOT take a nap. The next day however he napped just fine but still had trouble falling asleep at night, and woke up twice. He is just inconsistent and hard to figure out :) We usually try to shoot for 3 naps about 45mins-1hr long each day, but every day is differnt. We have tried the whole schedule thing and he just refuses to adhere to it (or is that mommy who sometimes loses track of the schedule...hmmm). I will say though that when Zac keeps him on Fridays while I go to work he usually sleeps like a jewl...wonder what his trick is!?!

Put on Love

"Above all things PUT ON LOVE, which is the bond of perfection" Col 3:14

Since it is our Anniversary today I was just sitting and reflecting on the last three years and I found this verse so fitting. One of the biggest things that struck me about this verse was "put on love". Most people start out thinking love is a feeling, something that comes naturally. In reality, we have to make an effort to love because feelings fade. Which is so true in a marriage. Marriage is about commitment, it's about perserverance and long suffering. Yes, there are so many great times but there are also hardships and struggles and that is what makes a marriage strong. Zac and I will be the first to admit that there are ups and downs in marriage. We have been through a lot in 3 years (prob not more than the average family but seems like a lot to us) and I think God has taught us to lean on Him and rely on each other through those tough times. I confess, marriage is work when you do it right (not saying that we always get it right cause we don't) but I declare all the time over our marriage that it will LIVE and not die to show the goodness of God, His grace, and His mercy. Our lives are a testimony to the fact that God's Word is true and that as we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts.

Happy 3rd Anniversary!!!

Zac and I are celebrating our 3rd Anniversary today (well there won't actually be much celebrating today seeing how I won't even see him til after 9pm). I feel like I have known him forever and yet I can't believe that 3 years have already gone by (does that make any sense?). We are super blessed and so thankful for everything God has done and we look forward to many more years serving Him and loving each other.

Story of how we met

Bekah's side Part 1

Zac's side Part 1

Bekah's side Part 2

Zac's side Part 2

Toboggans!?!

Is it really that time of year already...I feel like I some how missed spring and summer this year. Do you think it had anything to do with having a baby (Can you believe I already want another child)!?! Avery is going on 5 1/2 months and I want the time to start going backwards so that he will stay little. But, since that isn't going to happen we will just enjoy EVERY minute of EVERY day. Fall is our favorite time of year. To me it is just so refreshing with the cool breeze and beautiful leaves. The average person wouldn't need a toboggan just yet...but Avery is NOT the average person ;) (plus my mom knits such cute toboggans and I couldn't pass up the chance to put one on him!)

A Father's Love

Is there anything sweeter than seeing a Father loving on his children? It sure helps put into perspective how our heavenly Father feels about us. When I watch Zac with Avery, I am reminded of my Fathers love. The bible tells us that our Father rejoices over us with gladness, that He quiets us with His love, and that He sings over us (Zeph 3:17). He knows when we sit down, and when we rise up. He is familiar with ALL of our ways. He knows our coming and going, for all of our days are written in His book (Psalm 139). Our Father is not distant nor is He angry, but He is the complete expression of love (1 John 4:16). His desire is to lavish love upon us simply because He is our Father and we are His children (1 John 3:1). He is the perfect Father, offering more than our earthly Father ever could. In Jesus, His love for us is revealed (John 17:26). Jesus, being the exact representation of His being came to demonstrate that our Father is for us and not against us (Heb 1:3. Rom 8:31). I am thankful for the love Zac has for Avery and for the reminder of the love my heavenly Father has for me!

When you don't know what to do...Walk

Zac and I have been making it the nightly routine to go for a walk after dinner. Mostly because this is Avery's "fussy" time (cause he gets tired and needs a nap but it's to close to bedtime!) and the only way to keep him from fussing is go for a walk or put him in the bathtub. Well He LOVES the outdoors and loves going for walks so out the door we go! It has been great for Zac and I. We get to spend that time talking and catching up with each other. The past couple nights we have talked about destiny and where the Lord is calling this family. Lets just say I am excited for the adventure God has in store and look forward to what is ahead of us!

Fall...MY FAVORITE

Is there anything better than mountaintops and fall colors!?!

Family hike

Avery getting geared up for the hike

Let's do this!

The three stooges

Father son talk

Avery was making sure I didn't get any closer to the edge

Through the thickets

Yes my God created THAT!

Fall's fabulous colors

We love hiking and Avery...a good combo

Avery saw a cool bug on the ground and was not interested in picture taking

Waiting for Zac to catch up

Whiteside

He finally caught up...and he's not even wearing a 14lb baby

Beautiful

I could do this every day

Leaves

Family time

Avery wondering how we are gonna get back up the rock we climbed down to get here

Contemplating

Flowers of fall

Tuckered out...

Fell asleep halfway

The end

God's gift

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a gift from Him."

Psalm 127:3

As parents, we have a brief 18 years to make a godly impact on our children. A few short years to teach them about our loving Father and train them up in righteousness. 5 months of Avery's life has already passed in a blur and in the scheme of things, 18 years is not that far away. As I was reflecting on that I was humbled by the opportunity God has given us in raising godly children. As parents God has commissioned Zac and I to make an impact on the next generation through our children. What a joy and a privilege to serve in such a way. Now that I have Avery I can't imagine life without him and I am not quite sure what I actually did before he ever entered the world. He has softened my heart in so many ways and has given me a greater understanding of the love that our heavenly Father has for His children. Avery is definitely a gift from God!