Busy, busy, busy...

The past month has been full of fun times with family and friends.  Zeke and I have also enjoyed our time at home each day.  Gregg and I are in awe as we watch Zeke grow and develop.  We thank God for a healthy, inquisitive, son with a zest for life that is contagious.  We don't know how two introverts created an extrovert, but we know that is how God knit Zeke together!

I have been trying to be more intentionl about initiating activities with him on a regular basis.  We are working on his first memory verse (seen in the previous post), Bible stories, numbers, colors, etc.

This post is going to be a mish mash of our recent outings and time at home.  Enjoy! 



Feeding himself dinner!



"Eh-pwane" (airplane)


 

Unseasonably warm weather meant lunch on the back porch!



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Wynna came over to play!



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We went to lunch with Samantha and baby Micah



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I got to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Courtney's baby girl!



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Finding new uses for the potty (haven't started training yet!)



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"Key-yick" (kick)

  

"Cull" (color)





Another warm February day!





After a walk with Carlitos and his family



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Mommy and Daddy going out for Valentine's Day dinner

  

Auntie Tessa generously came all the way to our home to stay with Zeke
while Mommy and Daddy went to dinner!



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Fun hanging out with Daddy



Dada's hat

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Happy Birthday, Luke!



Going to his buddy Luke's birthday party (my friend Dena's son)



The birthday boy!



As you can see, we have had a busy, but fun month.  We are so thankful for time with friends and family.  We try not to take it for granted since we know we could be moving before too long.  We pray you are all doing well and we thank God for each of you.

Quick video update

I plan to write more later, but I wanted you all to see a little clip of us working on his first memory verse, Ephesians 6:1.  You'll want to be sure to pause the music on my playlist above this post.

Enjoy!

Contributing Writer

I wanted to write a quick post to let you all know that I recently became a contributing writer for http://www.christianmommyblogger.com/.  Here is the direct link to the post introducing us: http://christianmommyblogger.com/our-new-contributing-writers/

I will also be helping Sara, the author of http://www.yourthrivingfamily.com/ when she takes a break for maternity leave in March.  I'm excited about the opportunity to write about topics that are close to my heart and possibly help a few mommies out there along the way while sharing my faith.

My first post (actually more controversial than I expected) went "live" on January 17th.  I wrote about scheduling babies as an alternative to demand feeding.  Here is the direct link: http://christianmommyblogger.com/infant-scheduling-an-alternative-to-demand-feeding/

I will try to let you all know each time one of my posts will appear over the coming months.  If you have time, I'd love to read your comments in the comments section of the blogs too.

If you have anything in particular you are interested in knowing more about, please let me know and I can see about writing a post on that topic.  Thanks so much and God bless!

TWO!!!

Happy Birthday, Zeke!!!

 

January 19, 2012, Zeke turned two!  It seems like his first year passed quickly, but the second year went by in a flash.  We decided to celebrate as a family on his actual birthday.  I made him a chocolate mousse cake, got him a balloon, and we gave him his own flashlight (he loves his Dadda's flashlight).  It was the perfect evening for a two year old!



"Mmmmm!"



"Lat-light"



The weekend following his birthday, we drove down to a cabin on the Georgia/Florida border (we literally could stand with one foot in Georgia, and one in Florida!) to spend the weekend with Jimmy, Maria, Nick, Krissy, Leah, Gregory, and Stacey.  Gary had to work and Dadder Poo and Chella didn't feel up to the drive.  Debbie was out of town.  Aside from missing them, it was an amazing weekend together that we will always cherish.




The cabin





I love this!



Sweet Leah took great care of Zeke!



Hangin' with the men!



He adores Aunt Stacey and I think the feeling is mutual!



Krissy was great with him too!



Mommy/daughter time



Exploring with cousin Gregory

The yummy cupcakes I had made locally in Acworth

Zeke didn't actually eat it (too much sugar), but it made a good picture!



New toys!





So sweet!



Breakfast before we had to leave : (



Brothers



The kiddos (minus Zeke)



I took Zeke to his two year well-visit and everything is going great.  He weighs about 33 pounds and is 35 3/4 inches tall.  That makes him in the 96th percentile in weight and 84th percentile in height...wow! 

We are slowly transitioning off of his "mush."  Those of you that know us well know that is the food we feed him based on Dr. Denmark's recommendations.  It's a combination of meat, beans, veggies, fruits, and grain.  He has been enjoying the new tastes and textures.  His first "table food" was organic puffs (rice puffs).  He will eat those non-stop if we'll let him.  I'm working on a batch of homemade granola right now to replace the puffs.  It is much more nutritious!

Next, he tried his birthday cake (all whole food ingredients) and continually said, "Mmmm."  I was thrilled!  He loves eggs and baked oatmeal for breakfast.  Last night I fixed "crocodile nuggets" which are baked nuggets made of chicken, veggies, eggs, and grain.  He loved those too.  It is fun to introduce him to new things, but I know it will be more challenging to get him to eat a balanced meal like he did with his mush!

All in all we are having a great start to the new year.  The weather has been strange here, so we've had many opportunities to play outside, which Zeke loves.  I think he'd stay outside all day if I'd let him.  We continue to thank God for Zeke, his good health, and the blessing that he is to us.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!” (Psalm 91:1-2)



To Him be the glory...

I had not planned on writing another post so soon, but I wanted to take a moment to write down my goals for 2012.  I have never been one to make "New Year's Resolutions," but I do want to reflect on the past and set goals for the future.  I think it's okay to seek God and set goals based on His leading with the understanding that they may change.  My friend Christy created a "New Year's Vision Casting" guide, which I plan to do (and had planned to do earlier, but didn't!).  Here is the link in case you are interested: http://beggarsharingbread.blogspot.com/p/new-years-vision-casting.html

In 2012 I'd like to do my best to bring glory to God....I will:

1. Continue to spend time in the word each morning before Zeke gets up (even if it's just 5 minutes)
2. Begin the "Treasures of Healthy Living" Bible study with Gregg (setting aside time 2-3 evenings/week)
3. Establish several television and computer free evenings in our home (Gregg and I decided to this together) 
4. Seek God's guidance to understand how to be a better wife
5. Be more intentional about reaching out to my neighbors
6. Be more intentional about setting aside quality time with Zeke during the day
7. Re-establish my sourdough starter and begin regularly making sourdough bread
8. Continue making kombucha regularly
9. Begin making fermented vegetables monthly
10. Read more (this will be greatly helped by doing #3)

I know some of these are broader than others, and I hope Christy's guide will help me focus.  I realize that I will never be perfect, and I thank God for sending His son to free me from that burden. 

On the eve of 2012, I can't help but wonder what the Halls will be doing this time next year.  Will we be living in Texas?  South Georgia?  Will we be expecting another baby?  I know what my desires are, but I pray that I can truly surrender to the Lord's will and find joy in the plan that HE reveals.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." ~ Ephesians 3: 20-21