Thankful for my sister

We haven't always gotten along so well, having our fair share of fights, yelling matches, disagreements and fake biting. (OK, OK ... I used to bite myself, show my mom the bite marks blaming Courtney, then she'd get the spanking. I was an evil big sister.) But now that we are older, wiser, my sister is my best friend. She is the main reason why I want Preston to have a sibling so badly; you can't have that relationship with anyone else. Who else will play Barbies with you, film ridiculous movies, use a cardboard cut-out of Mickey to deter the window painter from smoking, let you sleep in her bed when you find a bug in yours, be your pre-GPS GPS to help you find places, and steal rolls and eat them under the desk with you. There are some things only a sister can do, and I'm incredibly thankful for mine.

Monthly Preston: Month six

Weight: 15.2 pounds
Length: 25.5 inches
Likes: Preston has learned that he can make tidal-wave-sized splashes in the bathtub. Scott and I look like we've been front row at a Sea World show after he's had his bath. Additionally, he loves blowing raspberries, his paci (forever and always), hair (his own and anyone else's), his feet, bouncing in his exersaucer, peek-a-boo, and having folded socks dropped on him.
Dislikes: He still doesn't like socks. Now that he plays with his feet more, they get pulled off quicker than I put them on. It's a losing battle.
Accomplishments: Rolling from his belly to his back, standing when supported, sitting for a few seconds when sat down, and finally sleeping through the night (I was drunk with giddiness after getting my first full-night's sleep in almost six months the next morning.) He also just started on rice cereal with minimal excitement. He'd rather eat his bib.

I can't believe it's been half a year already! It seems like we just brought him home. I say this every month, but it still remains true. The older he gets, the more personality he gets. He's such a happy, easy going little guy. We took him to a volleyball game this month, something Scott and I have enjoyed doing since we were students. Since the gym where the girls play is pretty loud, I stuffed some cotton in his ears and came armed with a few books. He did so well and even liked watching the game. He also got to participate in his first Harding Homecoming. Most of our family came by to visit this month, so he got to see both grandmas, grandpa, and aunt, which is so nice when they live a few hours away.

From top left: Attack of the giant baby toys; first Halloween; first Homecoming game; what we do when daddy's away; wiped out; Grammy and Pops come to visit; rice cereal!; cheering on the volleyball team; snuggling with Aunt Coco.

Thankful for my parents

I recently read somewhere that "thank you" is the best prayer. It makes me enjoy this little exercise all the more.

I'm thankful for my parents. When I think about how much I love Preston, I get overwhelmed to think that they love me that much, too. I feel like I should tell them to stop, that I'm not that big of a deal, but I'm glad they do. Mom and Dad show me God's love — in their relationship with me and in their dealings with others. Neither are boastful about their actions, but both take a behind-the-scenes approach. I'm also thankful my parents didn't try to be the cool parents and say yes to everything. I never wanted for anything, but I never got everything I wanted, and as an adult now, I can see how unpleasant those other kids turned out.

So thanks, Mom and Dad, for being a great example of love, generosity, and kindness to me.

Thankful for Preston

I had been wanting a baby for more than a year before Scott decided he was ready as well. I can't imagine the pain some women must feel who spend years trying before they finally get pregnant because it happened for us relatively quickly, but there is still an impatience and sadness that comes with each month wanting so badly to have a child and still not being pregnant yet.  

My sweet Preston is the answer to many, many prayers and is just another example of how God answered them. The longing and waiting had worn me down, and the moment we knew Preston was on his way felt like everything hadn't been that bad after all.

He's 6 months old today. I can't believe half a year has gone by already. Maybe time goes by quicker when you're sleep deprived — but maybe it's more because of happiness. (Probably a mixture of both.) I can imagine life without my loving, cuddly, inquisitive, silly, playful, happy boy, and I am thankful for the joy he's brought Scott and me.

Scott and I talked about how everything would change once Preston came along, and it has. There's a third person in our home who requires a lot more care and attention (and diapers) than we do, but aside from that, it feels like this is how it's been all along. There are times where I do miss the freedom of going out to long dinners or the movies or car trips without two or three nursing breaks or clothes without poop stains, but not enough to where I would give up the look in his eyes when he smiles at me.

To be loved by him is an amazing blessing I wouldn't trade for anything.

Thankful for Scott

Home Bible study, 2006: Where we first met

To celebrate the days leading up to Thanksgiving, I thought I'd start a little "thankful for" series where I can share (and remind myself of) all the blessings God has provided.

I thought I'd start of today with Scott. Nov. 1 is an important day for us — it's the day we began dating seven years ago. He was, quite literally, the answer to my prayers.

I came into my freshman year at Harding with wide eyes and dreams of finding the one. Having dated no one in high school, this was the place where I'd find my future mister. Obviously, he was going to be the very first guy I dated in college, and, when that very first guy I dated in college dumped me a month later, I was heartbroken — probably (definitely) more than I needed to be.

Crying on my little twin bed in Sears dorm, I prayed that I would never be dumped again. I asked God for the next person I dated to be the last person I dated, even if that meant I had to wait until I was 40.

A month or two into sophomore year, I met Scott. When we'd been dating a couple of months, I remembered that prayer. I don't know why, but I was surprised that God had actually listened to that weepy prayer of a over-dramatic girl, and that he had sent me exactly what I needed.

So, here we are, seven years later. We've been through job changes, going to school, house buying, having a baby, and the small minutia of daily life. There is no one who I'd rather have by my side, as my best friend, husband, and father to our son.

I'm so thankful that God listened to my prayer and how wonderfully he provided for me — and that it didn't take until I was 40 after all.