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Monday, October 22, 2012

Color for God

James had a huge test this morning, so there were many prayers in our house! JJ and I prayed for Daddy before we even got out of bed this morning. So sweet to look across and see his eyes closed and hands folded first thing in the morning!

After we finished breakfast, we were still sitting at the table, I knew James was taking his test right at that moment, so I began to write my prayer in my journal. JJ got out of his seat, walked over to me and asked what I was doing. (I usually do this while he is napping.) I told him I was writing my prayer to God for Daddy to pass his test. He told me he wanted to color for God! (teary eyed as I'm writing here) I handed him the pen, and he began his coloring. I asked him what his coloring was saying. He simply said, "God, help my Daddy pass him test."

I cannot describe the joy I felt in my heart this morning! I know children learn by example, and these past couple weeks I have not been the best example. I have been stressed out and just a down right Debbie Downer. You know the type. Nothing has been going the way I thought it should go. Yeah, that's been me... So, needless to say, I'm glad that he picked up on something good today!

He even told me while we were running errand today that he colored to God to help Daddy pass his test! Well, guess what, my friends?! Daddy passed his test! We thanked God, and I know that He will use this as a fabulous lesson for my Jman!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Giveaway

My RASberry Designs facebook page has reached 100 likes, so to celebrate I'm doing a giveaway! Please click on the link, like my page, then like the status about the giveaway! You can always order anything you see on the page, or you can tell me what you want me to make you!

https://www.facebook.com/rachel.stevenson.188?cropsuccess#!/pages/RASberry-Designs/242572019152647

3 Year Old Zoo Trip

Since we were not near family for JJ's birthday this year, I decided to take him to the zoo! A friend that I met here asked if she and her little boy, (J's new bff!) could go with us! Of course, J and I were super excited to go to the zoo and to be with friends! In one of JJ's books about Elmo, Elmo says that his favorite zoo animal is the giraffe, so that is now JJ's favorite zoo animal too. Go figure! He loved seeing the elephant too because he is really into the book "Horton Hears a Who". We even have the movie, which he has seen a million times now!

We were thrilled and shocked to see Batman at the zoo! They were setting up for Halloween. J was showing off his Batman muscles!

Here we are feeding his favorite zoo animal. I do not do well with feeding animals, but thankfully, we had a cup!

JJ and Maddox, whom he calls Mammox!


Train ride!

I love how this looks like he's right in there with those tigers!

I am not going to lie, this sky lift scared me! It was really neat to see everything from above, but yikes was it high!

We ended the day with a cupcake from a local cupcake shop called "Cupcakes Ya'll"! We called Daddy so he could join in on singing "Happy Birthday"!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Good Golly Miss Molly!

Ha ha! I love the title! I have actually been saying that quite a bit lately! Because we got ourselves a puppy 7 weeks ago! We have been wanting one for a while and talked about it quite a bit. We considered waiting until we were settled and maybe even do it as a Christmas gift to JJ, but Miss Molly Mae, as I like to call her captured our hearts!

She is a poochon, which is a mix of poodle and bichon. No, we are not big into getting a well known breed at all. In fact, I still feel funny when people say how cute she is and ask what she is. Then, they begin to ask all the questions about poochons, and I feel like a fake! I know some people are all about a certain breed, but we were just trying to get a cute family dog!

JJ has gotten very attached, which was our main reason for getting her. He hugs her and tells her he loves her too much! He tells me that too, but I hope he means it more when he says it to me! :)

Monday, October 1, 2012

3 year old

I don't even know where to start or how to say it, I guess I'll just start from the beginning.

My dream was always to be a mom! I was the typical baby doll and Barbie playing girl. I always played I had a baby! James and I married in 2006 and talked of having children from the beginning. We prayed about it and both had a desire for a child. After finding out I have PCOS, we knew it would be a little harder to have a baby, but we were trusting God. After a year, I remember taking a walk and talking to God. I told him I would be content with adopting if I couldn't have a child on my own. That very Saturday, we found out we were pregnant! God is so good!

I enjoyed being pregnant! I remember before I was showing how I wish I would show because I wanted everyone to know I was carrying a miracle! I only had a little stomach ache in the beginning, but it was nothing to complain about. I got tired, but I enjoyed napping during the day knowing I was taking care of my baby! I remember wanting Checkers fries, but I think it was more James wanting Checkers! We even laughed about that this weekend! I also loved cucumbers sliced and dipped in ranch dressing!



A month before JJ was due, I had a false alarm. James rushed home, we packed bags and headed to my dr. only to be seen by a nurse practitioner who told us it was a false alarm. I had gotten my hopes up! James had off the rest of the day, so we went to Olive Garden for lunch, walked around the mall, played lunar golf and enjoyed a day together! The next morning, my water had broken, but I thought it was another false alarm. I went into school to substitute and had bad cramping. Finally, a teacher told me she thought my water had broken, and I better go see my doctor. When I called, the nurse said, "Mrs. Stevenson, either your water has broken or something crazy is going on, so you need to come in right away." I drove myself to the dr.! My sister, Sarah, met me there. Sure enough my water had broken! At 7:50 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2009, sweet James Allen Stevenson Jr., JJ was born! I will never forget the moment he was placed in my arms, and he looked up at me! It was like he was telling me it was nice to finally meet this person he'd been so close to! He was a month early and tiny, 5 lb. 14 oz. Thankfully, the dr. didn't think the NICU was needed!


Since then I have had many sleepless nights, crying from colic (better known as your baby just won't stop crying, and there's nothing you can do to fix it), jaundice, boo boos that have made Mommy cry, first steps, first words, first sentences, rolling over, trying to hit the woman who does everything for him, hearing my sweet child tell me no, tell me I'm mean and so on. Parenthood isn't always beautiful. There are moments where you wonder how you got to be a mom and how you will make it through the day. But those moments are overcome by the love you have for your child. JJ has brought us more joy than I could have ever asked for! James and I love him so much! JJ even told me today that he loves me too much! I don't think too much is even possible!



As I put him to bed tonight, I was teary eyed. I told him while we did most things today that it was the last time he would do it as a two year old. I was getting all sad and sappy while he's excited for his happy day and being 3! How does time go by so quickly? I remember parents telling me to enjoy him because they grow so fast and thinking yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, looking back, they were so right! He has grown up too fast! I even tried shrinking him tonight and giving him little pills. He said, "No, Mommy, me get big and strong and tall." Why is it I want to grow, but I still want him to be my little baby?



JJ, you are my pride and joy! Mommy and Daddy love you "too" much! I pray that God will help us as we try to train you to be a Godly man. May you come to know Him and be a great leader some day!

Love,

Mommy