9 Months Down!

Our little pumpkin, although not so little anymore, is now 9 months old! And boy is he fun!

We thought B would crawl early because he sat unassisted before his 5 month birthday, and could bear his weight on his legs from a couple weeks old, but weeks passed and nothing. For the past two months however, he has been attempting to maneuver himself around ("crawl")...he's rolled himself everywhere, scooted backwards and even figured out how to get up on those knees, but the whole idea of crawling just didn't click for this little man until this month when he finally started "crawling" (army crawling that is), yay little Brayden.  It still isn't his most favorite thing in the world, he'd rather be standing or picked up, but if he wants something, or to get to one of us without waiting patiently (patience isn't his virtue;)), he will just muscle his way over.  It's hard not to laugh at him when he does this because he looks quite silly, but we are so proud of him! I'm sure once his legs can figure out how to bear all the weigh without help he will be walking, it seems much more fun to him ;).

He has started pulling himself up as well, but pulling 22+lbs up is tough work.  He can stand well on his own holding onto things for quite some time and gets so excited when we hold his hands and let him "walk".

He talks, smiles and laughs all the time---these moments brighten our days!

At the beginning of this month he got 5 teeth and has 8 teeth now, let's hope he is done teething for a while, poor little man.  But that toothy grin is sure cute!  And when we say "cheese", he loves to show off those pearly whites.

He loves giving hi-5's!

He is still in the 90th percentile for both weight and height. Big little man!

His favorite foods are yogurt, bananas, happy green puffs, and grapes. He has a sweet tooth like his mama.

He says "dada" all the time, "mama" when he wants something or needs me, he has said "papa", "nana", "baba", a version of "hi", what sounds like "yes", and mimics "ssss" (for "Shhh"). He doesn't know what he is saying of course, but it is fun to hear those words!

He loves BALLS and playing catch, knocking over blocks, reading books, phones, computers, Sesame Street's ABC song, walks, and being outside.

He is at such a fun age and we are so blessed by his kisses, hugs, waves, giggles, smiles, and love.  Little B, you are such a joy! We love our family of 3!  Happy 9 months kiddo!

Bad Days?

I have never been good with change or the most flexible person in the world. The flesh in which I am still encased in still pulls towards sinful behaviors and attitudes that are rooted in my desire to have control. I see the manifestations of this in my anxious or worried heart, my frustration when things don't go as planned, and my emotions when I am left without answers of what to do in a specific situation.  

I have written on this subject many, many times. My life is marked by sanctification in this area as the Lord graciously provides me with countless opportunities to grow.  The dependence I have upon Him, although never changing, becomes more clear in moments when I am humbled to remember that HE is in control, and always is.  

Through these times when I am forced to recognize my lack of control, I find myself reminded of the fact that my life is far more blessed than I deserve.  The small trials that I face are tiny compared to the trials that many of my brothers and sisters in Him are enduring and have endured.  From my perspective, days can appear as "bad", in fact there are many times my husband asks me how my day has been and despite all the good in that day, I seem to find that the "bad" has outweighed what has been SO good.

I recently came across a familiar passage in Scripture that has given me a new perspective, and what I believe is the right perspective on "bad" days. 

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

For the Christian, there is no such thing as a "bad" day.  Are there hard days? Yes. Are there painful days? Yes. But there are no "bad" days. For the Christian we can rest in knowing that each day has been purposefully designed by the hand of the Almighty God. We can believe that as hard as it might be, there is good intended and there is glory being achieved. We can cling to the promise of this passage by recognizing that our affliction, no matter how great or how small it is here on earth, is momentary and light compared to what we have in store for us in the kingdom.  There is not a moment of suffering here that is eternal--thanks to the blood of Christ; all is temporal, and fading, bringing us closer with each tear and each day, to our Savior.  

If we truly believe that God IS sovereign over all, that He IS good, that He IS faithful, and that His ways ARE better, then there can never be a "bad" day for the believer.  We must resolve to change our thinking, and to keep our eyes fixed on the eternal in order to have this perspective. Our days must be seen as purposefully preparing us for perfection! What an amazing Truth to think on, and what a good Father we have.