Up early...

Being up early seems to be the only chance that I will get to blog. With my coffee sitting next to me, the lights out, and the house quiet, I can concentrate. I have wonderful intentions for this thing - but I am still waiting for my live-in nanny to move in or, at least my other six arms to grow - you know, two arms for each kid. A girl can dream, right?

Let's see, since our last chat, I'm sure a lot has happened. Toby's birthday was on the 2nd. What a sweet boy he is! Here's something you can be praying about. Toby has no words. We're not sure whether it is just because his brothers never stop talking and have never given him a reason to need to talk. It could be a hearing issue - I have reason to think that his hearing is at least impaired to some degree. Or, it could be a developmental issue. No matter what the underlying cause is, we have requested that he be evaluated by early intervention and he is eligible for services. So we are accepting whatever help is available to him for as long as he can receive it. He has gotten to the point that he is now very frustrated, and it breaks my heart that in reality I can't communicate effectively with him. We know, though, that God will use this time of learning and adjustment to His glory. Toby will be stronger in the long run and so will we as his parents. I just ask for prayers that we all have the strength to do whatever is necessary to help our sweet boy. It is a little overwhelming at times. Here is a picture of the big guy on his birthday.

Levi just about has potty training defeated. It amazes me what a different experience it was this time around. With Ayden it took nearly a year and a half from start to finish and I have more gray hair from that then from any other experience in my life. With Levi, he went back and forth a couple of times with his interest level, but once I figured out that I needed to completely leave him alone and let him be his little independent pipsqueak self, he figured it out in days. We're not just talking #1, we're talking #2 and most times being clean and dry when he wakes up from nappy and rest time as well. Thank you, God! He wears big boy underwear most of the time, except when sleeping and when we are out somewhere where I know I can't get him to the potty in time, but we are talking very few accidents. They are such different children! With Ayden, the interest wasn't there and I had to force it at 4. With Levi, there is no pressure because he is only 3 and I don't have the time to force the issue, so God definitely knew what he was doing putting which children in what birth order. Here is Levi being Levi.

I am going to do a completely separate post on Ayden once we get started with school. Let's see what other news I can share. We found out last night that we are going to have another nephew. Ryan (Shawn's brother) and his wife, Shathar, are due January 20th and Langston (Shathar's maiden name) will be here to meet us! He's got four, well three, excited cousins. I guess CJ can't really be excited yet. But he will be, though! Boys are so much fun!

CJ is getting so big - it is bittersweet watching him change so fast knowing that he is our last baby. I had to pack up the newborn size clothes...that was sad, sad! But I couldn't ask for a more complete family...there's a lot of love in this house! God has been so good to us!

Well I hear stirring from the boys' room. I better call it quits for now. Have a wonderful weekend. I am working on making this a habit - just give me a little time because it really is a commodity these days!