Just like a rock star

It was nearly bath time. I had gotten as far as getting clothes off and was tending the bath. I came in Shepard's room to find him performing, so naturally I flew to get the video camera. Thank God I caught some of it for you. Rock on, little man.


I have more videos to upload from July, but it's been a little nuts here lately. More to come!

Can I get a witness!?

Sometimes you just have to testify. When I was growing up, sometimes our Sunday night church services were "testimony services." That was just people in the church getting up and saying what the Lord had done for them lately. I think sometimes we easily attribute big things, blessings, etc. to the Lord; but I also want to be watching for him in the "little" things.
This testimony is about Shepard.
For nearly the entire month of June and the first week of July, Shepard decided that Mommy was no longer awesome. I basically attributed this behavior to some sort of "terrible twos" phase. On vacation, it got even worse, as the grandparents became the center of his universe and both Mommy and Daddy were getting the cold shoulder. He would even scream "NOOOOOO!" when I'd try to pick him up after nap. By the time we got home, Daddy was awesome again, but I was absolute chopped liver. He would often scream if I just entered the room where he was. He would push me away with both hands. He would try to flip food out of my hands as I put it on his tray. About the only thing he would let me do without a huge struggle was give his bath and put him to bed. Jerod even had to talk to him several times about being mean to Mommy. I kept trying to stay upbeat and push through the phase, but it is really difficult to have ANYONE full-on reject you. Especially this little person that you would lie down and die for if needed. Sometimes I just cried.
Then magically, about a week and a half ago, on a Friday, I came home from work, and instead of running away from me, Shepard hugged my legs. I sat on the hearth to watch him play and he came up and crawled in my lap. Then he sat down next to me like a little buddy. I just stared at Jerod as if to ask if he had picked up the correct child from day care. ??? The affection continued. No more screaming NO! DADDY! when I came to get him first thing in the morning. He was holding my hand, climbing in my lap and giving my spontaneous hugs. Hugs had NEVER happened unless I was picking him up at school. The turnaround was actually shocking.
Last week, I took Shepard with me to small group for a little while since Jerod was out of town. My friend Emily asked how Shepard was doing. She mentioned they had prayed for him and our relationship. Jerod had asked for prayer regarding how Shepard was interacting with me. I was able to give her such a good report about how wonderful our last week had been. Now, when I go into his room in the morning, he says, "It's MOMMY!" and starts telling me all about all kinds of things.
His shift literally happened the day after my group prayed for us. We went from a month of heart-breaking rejection to "Mommy is awesome!!" again. And thankfully, not to the exclusion of Daddy. His little heart seems rightly turned toward both of us again.
I have no idea what happened spiritually, and can't begin to explain that.

I just know that I fully believe that they prayers of my community worked in bringing healing to our slightly fractured family. All along the bumpy parts too, the Lord was teaching me about relentless love, patience and gentleness; as I was practicing those things with Shepard no matter what he gave to me. And of course, I could see God's heart in it all too. How, even when we push against Him, run to others instead of Him...He still meets us with relentless love and grace.

Summertime staycation!

We had a bit of a summer staycation after the birthday hub-bub was over. Several days of playing and hanging out at home and around the area. It was wonderful! Shepard had some watermelon last night. Yummo! More watermelon...

I think he likes it. :)

Pets

In addition to celebrating our little man's big day, we had a sad thing going on as well. Barley came home after his vacation with some health issues. Some things that had been going on a while finally came to a head, and Jerod felt that he needed to take Barley up to the emergency vet on Saturday. The news wasn't good, and Barley was in bad shape. We made the excruciating decision to let Barley go.

"Bee-bar" was a sweet golden bear, a faithful companion, and our fur-baby. Between losing Tink a few years ago, my parents' dog Jazzy in January and Barley over the weekend, we're ailing in the doggie department. They're such a part of your life. 

Tinkerbell and Barley...back in the day.

Shepard loved Barley as well. Barley was sooo patient with him. I'll have to sort through old videos and find some where they're together.

We also lost our flame angel fish on Monday. His name was Chuck Norris. He was lovely as well. Sigh. Happy and sad times all together.

Happy Birthday TWO you!

Practice run on the birthday cupcake. Apparently, he's allergic to lavendar icing. (Seriously)

We celebrated little man's birthday on Saturday with our family...on the HOTTEST day of the year by far. I think it was 104 at one point with a "feels like" of about 109. Everyone was so gracious and game to take turns sitting outside and coming in to cool off. Thanks to all the family---grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who helped us celebrate.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHEPARD!

Sophie is festive in Uniqua mask and party blower.

SCOOTER! Thanks neighbors!

Actual birthday cupcake. #1

Icing goatee. And sweaty little head.

Kids + Cupcakes = Winning

Micah and Aidan compare cupcake notes.

Backyard fun.

Tyrone and Uniqua have a chat.

Water and Uncle Matt make everything better.

Woo hoo! Sprinkler.

Micah shows off his basketball skills.

TWO!

I can hardly believe we have a two-year-old tomorrow. We were just marveling at how much he's learned in the past few months. Then, despite the fact that there were 100 other things I could be doing Thursday night to get ready for an onslaught of family company...I couldn't resist going ahead and making a video.

June 2011

June 2012

Big thank yous to all of our "village," our friends and family who cheer us on, cheer us up, and are helping us raise this precious child.




Thanks to the Dixie Chicks for both of those beautiful songs. I recorded "Godspeed" while I was pregnant with Shepard. I had aspirations of recording for him an entire album of lullabies...oh well. It never happened! The second song is the Dixie Chicks' "Lullaby."

Happy almost Birthday, Sweet Shepard.

Shepard's Ocean ~by Shepard

Last week was so much fun. Mommy and Daddy put everything we owned in the car and we drove a long way. Somewhere, we picked up Grandma. There were lots of people at lunch when we stopped to pick up Grandma. I had trouble concentrating on eating because I was so excited to see my cousins and my Grandma. I'm not sure how they expect me to sit still when there are things to explore and I wasn't hungry anyway. And I didn't want to get back in the car because I was afraid something might fall on me. Mommy assured me I was safe. But that beach towel was making faces at me.

Gigi showed me the card game.

(Mommy says if you click on the pictures you can see them better.)

We got to a new house (with STAIRS!!!) and Gigi and Pops were there too! There were lots of fun things at the house to play with. Something called vertical blinds, a tree inside, stairs! and a special hiding place behind Pops' bed. Sometimes I like to go there and make a shoo-wee.
 

Daddy rubbed "ocean lotion" all over me and on my face and my ears and I wore my special water clothes and Dora diaper and went to the ocean. I love the white waves except when they hit me in the face and the water tasted bad. Mommy and Daddy and Grandma and Gigi all took turns helping me jump the waves. I didn't like going in the part where my feet couldn't touch.

Gig's lap was a good place to rest.

We ate food on the beach. I was unsure about my yogurt.

 Being at the ocean makes you sleepy. A few times I took my nap out there so I could get more energy to run around more. It takes a lot of energy when you wake up before 6 am. I couldn't understand why no one felt like playing with me so early. There was so much to do!

Apparently, I fell asleep and someone took a picture. I blame Mommy.

We went to a place called Savannah. I walked forever holding Grandma and Gigi's hands. But then I was really tired of walking and just wanted to run free. I pretty much feel that way all the time, but it seems to upset the tall people. They don't like for me to run free. They say things about moving cars and falling in the river. We didn't stay very long in Savannah. That's good because I needed another nap. I did get to see a trolley and have ice cream. I like Savannah. Ding ding!! That's what the trolley says.

Minnie Mouse lives in Savannah.

 I got a lot of practice going up and down the stairs and even learned how to go down stairs on my bottom. I also tried the swimming pool, but I might like the ocean better. The best part about the pool was throwing in Mommy's "boats" and watching them float. (Mommy's note: "boats" were my black flip flops. I wear a size 8.5. I wouldn't classify that size as a boat and chose not to take his comment personally.)

Mommy is very pale. She says it's ok because she won't look like a baked potato when she's 50.

Gigi and Pops made sure their patch of sand didn't go anywhere.

Daddy. My favorite.

Grandma showed me how to play with my cool sand toys.

We ate at the Boathouse and there was a giant forklift that moved entire boats. It was fun to watch. The french fries were also good.

We walked down the pier near the Boathouse and saw big birds and a giant alligator in the water.

We went on walks at our new house and saw bunny rabbits, alligators and lots of birds. The bunny rabbit almost let me pet him.  I also saw a turtle.


 

Daddy is looking for alligators.

BUNNY!

Alligator.

It was the best week ever.