Holly and Bob’s Wedding and More

Holly and Bob’s wedding day started very early for me.  Henry had growing pains last night.  Oh, how I remember those.  So I held my little man until I was completely awake and he was completely asleep.  And my little alarm was up like clock work.  The joys of motherhood are what make me suck it up when I am exhausted and want to whine and realize I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

My littlest man and I headed to the wedding with Mika, my friend Beth’s daughter, as the babysitter deluxe. Hudson was excellent and Mika is second to done with coping and dealing, as my mother would say. 

Taking photos is fun and scary.  It’s a lot of pressure when you’re not a professional.  What am I saying.  It’s probably more pressure when you’re a pro, you’re just better at it!  At one point I thought my camera was broken before the wedding.  I didn’t breathe a word.  I just begged God.  Whatever it was went away. 

It’s definitely easier to be creative when not under the gun.  I give a lot of credit to event photographers.  It’s not easy.  You really have to think on your feet and there’s no second chances to get certain photos.

I had fun and the wedding was beautiful.  Most of all I am so happy for Holly and Bob.

Or most of all I am proud of my baby for being so good.  Or maybe both.

Our whole family was invited but Daddy stayed home with Henry.  I had fears of a three year old screaming across a crowd that he had to pee or something of that nature.  Dave made Henry a homemade gluten free dairy free pizza.  It was really good.  Even Dave liked it.

Hudson and I made a pit stop at home and then raced back out to try to finish up helping our precious friend Dee. 

It was a wild and crazy day.  But lots of fun.  And did I mention how good my baby is?

Frantic Friday… Just Joking

Henry’s chicken operations aka chicken coop (sp?), egg shop etc.

The coop.

Working on keeping the chickens in.

 

Ready to run some errands.

Keeping a good eye on the rooster so it doesn’t “eat” him.

Pretty darn cute.

Playing on the fire truck at Stacey’s corn maze.

He met some young kids and went into the maze with them and their grandmother who had traveled to babysit them from New Mexico.

Henry

Trying to figure out this new photobucket.

I Forgot

I forgot how beautiful the mansion is where David and I got married.  My friend is getting married there on Saturday and I am doing the photos.  Seriously, please pray for that.  I want to do a good job.

Henry and Haley earlier in the day.

Staircase in mansion.

My crazy kid.  So much has happened since the day we got married.  It will be ten years next month.  It was neat to see Henry playing on the grounds.

Henry entertained the crowd during the rehearsal.

And the groom.  Or maybe that was the opposite.

Pretty Funny.

Sorry.  But it is.

Hudson’s Check Up (Yesterday)

I am growing to love Hudson’s doctor more and more.  He’s a pediatrician and an infectious disease doctor.  He was recommended to me by my friend Beth’s entire family.  When I first brought Henry to him, I didn’t get the warm and fuzzies, but the man has grown on me. 

I am not pro-vaccines or anti-vaccines.  I think they have played an important part in history and probably still do.  I just like to be informed about what is going into my child’s body and I think the number of vaccines is getting ridiculous.   I don’t think infants should be immunized against sexually transmitted diseases.  I also have a concern with the infant mortality rate in our country which is extremely high for a developed nation and for a nation with more vaccines than any other nation.  It’s all something to think about.  I don’t take it lightly.  It’s a different world than when I was a kid and even from 10 years ago.  So you can imagine my anxiety when facing Dr. Infectious Disease about my concerns on Tuesday.  He was great.  I was on the fence about giving Hudson the Hib vaccine this early.  I ask him which he thought was the most important and we went it the other virus that more commonly causes meningitis in babies these days.  Hudson has done well with the shot so far.  I would by lying if I said I wasn’t nervous then and now. 

The doctor was calling him big guy during the visit.  I was sure Hudson weighed close to twenty pounds.  He weighs 16.5.  Then I thought maybe he wasn’t gaining weight as fast as he was.  The doctor chuckled because he off the charts in weight for his age.  I didn’t catch his length this time.  He’s not small.  That’s for sure.

I’m madly in love with my 3 month old big guy and so glad he had a good appointment. 

The Days Are a Flash

Man, do the days go by fast with two kids.  FAST.

This week marks daddy’s first full week of work and it’s been a busy one so far and will just get busier! 

Please pray for:

1.  Our Melaleuca event/goal for our friend Dee.  We are believing God for her healing and a major provision for finances as she is unable to work with stage four bone cancer.  If you know this woman, you love her.  If you don’t know her, trust me, you would love her.  Someone recently told me they used to ask Dee if she were an angel.  It has been a blessing to spend more time with her, though I wish it were on better terms. 

2. Hudson has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.  I am still praying about giving him his Hib shot.  I am not a fan of so many vaccines so early in life.  The number has more than doubled since 2001. 

3. I am photographing a friends wedding this Saturday.  Pray for the rehearsal Thursday night because I am bringing both children .  And for Saturday.  I really want to do a good job for her and I have my friend’s daughter coming with me to help with Hudson.  So pray Hudson does a good job for her! 

4.  There are so many people in my life with great need for prayer.  Lift up a request for those unknown to you but known to God.  My heart goes out to them.

5.  Keep my cousins in Budapest in prayer as they wrap up details in the US and adjust to their new adventure abroad with God!

6.  Pray for my cousins who recently moved to Tennessee from Kentucky.  They have four children and have to live apart until the husband’s job officially transfers.

7.  If you don’t already, please pray for our nation.  This is a critical election.

8. I always appreciate prayers for me and my three boys (daddy included).

Tango

Tim and Rye taught me how to Tango this afternoon.  Turns out I am a very slow learner.  A little buggy to the cuzzies over the ocean .  Tango is an app you can download on your phone to make free calls and video chat.  My phone is slow, too, since we’re only working with 2g’s.  While I like technology, I like knowing the basics to get me through and reject learning new things to fill my brain.  I put them off.  Really, really buggy to other folks.  Slatters.   I got to see Tim practicing his slatting a week or so ago.  VERY entertaining.  Very.  But some of us know who the king slatter is.  Don’t we?

I’m not going to get too proud of our progress this early in the game, but we have managed to get to the early service on Sunday mornings lately.  This morning was a chilly September morning for Maryland.  Here are the boys – Jesus clapper and all just before we left.  They were so adorable this morning I couldn’t take it.

Here’s my little 3 and 1/2 year old snuggling with his lion his Uncle Vick and Aunt Sissie gave him a couple of years ago.  He calls it his bear.  We had some fun today.

 

 

On a very serious note, please pray for this African Family mentioned in my friend Julie’s (missionary to Africa with her husband and two small daughters) blog post.  A precious family recently lost the father and just lost the teenage son.

G R A T E F U L

Madly.in.love.

m a d l y

Hudson has been teething for a few weeks now.  Maybe over a month.  He is a very good baby.  He is mommy’s little buddy.

I know I am bias but my kids are so incredibly cute, brilliant, creative and fun.

Henry is really growing up lately.  It seems like he is learning mountains of information every day.  His vocabulary shocks me.  His comprehension scares me (not really but you know what I mean).

His imagination is incredible.

He is helping a lot.  He helps make food.  Today he was even helping stir something on the stove.  He puts things in the trash for me.  He puts the dirty clothes in the hamper.  He puts the dog in her kennel for me when we leave the house.  He takes things to the basement for me.  He helps with the laundry.  He somewhat helps with vacuuming.  He helps with yard work.  He feeds his puppy.  He goes and gets things for me when I need them.

He loves to sing all day long and make up his own songs.  When I make up songs to sing to him he always asks for more.  Sometimes I regret starting.Today he asked me to make up a song about Molly and Sam going with us to the zoo.

He loves group hugs and always asks mommy and daddy to kiss each other.

He’s a little jealous of his little brother but loves him so much.

He pushes the limits.

He loves to go to church.  He loves to stay home.  He’s always asking for new library books.  He doesn’t forget anything or how to get any place he has been.

His daddy got him this firefighter outfit at Costco today.  Then he took off the coat and said he was a farmer.

We have no idea how to raise a child.  A child for God.  But we trust God will lead us if we ask and we are so grateful He entrusted such amazing lives to us.  G R A T E F U L.

This little life melts my heart all day long.

It's Good to Be Alive

I just heard this song for the first time and I LOVE IT!

This Week…

Sometimes I reread my blog posts after posting and wonder where my brain was when I was typing because I have so many errors!  At least I try…

This week on Monday, Hudson and I hung out with some of our friends.  It was a really good time having tea on Eileen’s back deck in the gorgeous fall weather.

This was taken on my munchkin’s three month birthday.

Mr. Grumpy pants!  I would be grumpy too if my mom dressed me in that type of leisure outfit .

On daddy’s second day of work, mommy and the boys were brave enough to venture out to a local auction.  We didn’t stay long… just long enough to put some absentee bids in.  Almost a joke because someone could bid a dollar over to get an item and you can’t stop them if you’re not there!  Oh well.  We try.

Today we went back because we got a call that my bid won two acrylic paintings.  I noticed this bird’s nest built on the back of a trailer on a tractor trailer truck in the driveway of the auction warehouse. 

Here’s one of the paintings.

Here’s the other. 

Henry is in the other room playing with his “computer”.  It’s asking him questions.  It just asked who’s your best friend and he screamed back, “My baby brother!”  So cute.  It just asked again and he said the same thing.

Amy Carmichael’s Poem

Dave recently got me Amy Carmichael’s Edges of His Ways Daily Devotional.  I love the poem in today’s message:

For love, brave love that ventureth,
For love that faileth not, I come;
For love that never wearieth,
Nor findeth burdens burdensome.

I come for hope that springeth green,
And burneth steadfast like a star;
For Faith that pierceth through the seen
To things eternal, things that are.
...

O Love, that lightenest, all my ways,
Within, without, below, above -
Flow through the minutes of my days;
The sum of all my life be love.

Amen, Amy Carmichael. I love this poem.

Change of Weather Day 2 Home Alone

Our day two started a while ago.  This change of weather has brought a wave of allergy symptoms and a cold to our house.  Though I am very happy about the cooler temps.

Dave enjoyed his first day at work.  And we are plugging away at home with our goal for Dee, the three of us walking our new dog Haley and attempting to keep both boys entertained and happy.

Here we go.

3 MONTHS OLD!!

My little super star is 3 months old today!!!!  Can’t believe it.  He is so adorable!  Today was our first day with Daddy at work.  It went very fast and very well.  It’s amazing how quickly time flies with two kids.

Big Day at the Umsteads!

Today David returns to work after a very generous 12 weeks off from his company.  Please pray for his transition.  I am sure it will be great to get back into a routine, but who wants to return to a desk job after so many days off?  Also, his job is always changing.  It might be a little rough learning the new things and trying to remember the old.  We are believing God for a smooth transition. 

Henry has grown quite attached to his personal time with his dad.  We are praying for him as well through this time.

Today is also Hudson’s 3 month birthday.  I will post photos later.  I can’t believe it’s already been 3 months but, on the other hand, I can’t remember life before him.  He’s our good little buddy who goes with  the flow.  Such a sweet baby.  It’s so much fun to see his personality come out.

My friend Bethany, you have heard me mention her before I am sure, has had a vision to help our friend Dee who has stage 4 bone cancer.  Dee cannot work, lives alone and doesn’t have a provision for finances at this time.  Bethany is a hair dresser and one of her clients has been very successful at Melaleuca – an American manufacturing company of daily use products (cleaning, vitamins, skin care, nutrition etc.) that are green, safe and work well.  This month Melaleuca is offering $1,000 for any new customer who signs on 8 wholesale customers by the end of September.  Beth had the idea that she and I do this and give our money to Dee.  I was VERY skeptical.  Very.  To say I have been burned out on this type of stuff is an understatement.  But I went with her as a good friend and because we want to help our friend Dee.  The end of the story is we are taking the challenge of getting 8 wholesale customers by the end of the month to give our money to Dee.  Please, please pray for this endeavor but most of pray for Dee.  Prayer is the most important way to help because God hears our prayers.  And pray for our challenge.  If you want to take the challenge and get $1,000, let me know and I will help you. 

Barbara Bellar on Obamacare

My lovely and conservative friend Tanya (click here to see the bio-identical hormone work she does) shared this on her facebook:

Barbara Bellar on Obamacare:
We’re going to be gifted with a healthcare plan
we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don’t,
which purportedly covers at least 10 million more people,
without adding a single new doctor,
but provides for 16000 new IRS agents,
written by a committee
whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it,
passed by a congress that didn’t read it
but exempted themselves from it,
and signed by a president who smokes,
with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes,
for which we will be taxed for four years
before any benefits take effect,
by a government which has already bankrupted social security
and Medicare,
all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese
and financed by a country that’s broke.

Put it on the Altar

Wow, I loved the messages today at church.  They continue to answer my prayer of igniting my heart for God.  So powerful.  I loved the illustration of how we can become overwhelmed with such little complaints.  It’s. so. easy. to. do. as. a. mom.  It’s very humbling as a mother to see my own depravity.  We take those complaints of not having gas in the car, losing our keys (hey, those are both delay occurrences for me!), lack of sleep, whining children, family troubles, finances, etc., we pick them up and place them at the cross.  We let go with our hands and then turn our hands palms up to worship.  I love that word picture Pastor Schaller gave.  I love that I have two little faces always reminding me what a gift I have in them.  Sometimes (another word from the message), okay, more than sometimes, I am overwhelmed with the privilege God has given me in raising these two boys.  And I can’t even really fathom that they are really my children and God has really entrusted them to me.  How powerful is that?  I certainly couldn’t take my next breath without God giving it to me and I certainly cannot raise children with this wicked heart in me without Him daily transforming me into His image.  Praise God for the Cross, Praise God for the Blood, Praise God for His Strength, Praise God for His Grace and, certainly not least, Praise God for His WORD that He washes me with. 

Love this Photo

My cousin Sophie shared this photo on Facebook.  It’s her children and her mom (who’s my Aunt Teresa).  My Aunt Teresa is an amazing woman and her grandchildren are very cute!

Almost Fall on the Farm

Hudson enjoying a fall like day on the farm.  Today was opening day of Johnny and Stacey’s corn maze.

Sam gave mini wagon rides for 50 cents.  He was really cute driving the tractor.  Henry had fun riding and playing on everything.