Valentine's Day Highlights

Jared had this fantastic idea one day last week that he wanted to pass out Valentine's to all of our church members on Sunday during the Sunday School hour. In all honesty, I'm confessing my not so positive attitude at first. On Saturday, we signed 100 valentines and stuffed them with candy. Not exactly what I wanted to do, BUT the Lord quickly got my attitude in check. While I was signing valentines, Jared and Sam (together) were stuffing each valentine with a candy. Now, if you don't know my 19 month old you may think that's so sweet. But you fail to realize the teachable moment in this one afternoon. You see, my son loves to eat. I don't mean he's a good eater. I mean the kid wakes up in the morning saying "snack" and walks around the house all day saying "snack". HE.LOVES.FOOD. Now...for him to give these snacks away without eating them was a big deal. The even bigger deal came the next day. Sam walked around Sunday morning handing out those valentines to everyone he saw. He knew what he was giving away at this point and didn't budge not once. If he saw someone new walk in the door, he dug in his bag to give them a valentine. I couldn't help but be a proud Momma. Not because this was my idea, because it was my giving husband's idea, but because of the fact that at the young age of 19 months, Sam was already learning about sacrifice and giving. How I regretted that my attitude was not as cheerful as Sam's was at first. The sacrifice may be small but to a toddler who loves food giving it away without having a little bitty sample is unfathomable. But what a great lesson the Lord taught us all. Lord, continue to give us teachable moments with Sam and with myself.

No Sweeter Sounds

1. There's no sweeter sound to a Mama's ears than to hear this...."uh ew". What is that you ask? That's Sam's way of trying to say "love you". What's sweeter and cuter is the high pitch way he tries to say it just like I do.

2. Another sweetness that I'm sure he will begin to use a lot more is "psss". Insert picture of sweet, innocent grin on face of cutie pie Sam. That's his way of saying "please?". Only he looks way cuter than I ever could.

3. Finally, Sam's latest word that brings me such joy. "two?" Sam wants "two?" of everything. If he's getting a cracker, he'll say "two?" so that he can have one for each hand. How's that for obsessive?!? Please Lord don't let me rub off my OCD tendencies on him. :)

Sam is quickly learning how to charm his Mama! Such a sweet boy he is! And there are no sweeter sounds that this Mama loves to hear than his!

"No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backwards." 1 John 3:6 The Message

I've been convicted of this in a lot of different ways....especially the part of "making a practice of sin". You see, I'm what you would call a planner, an organizer, an obsessive person, and certainly a person of principles. Now you might be saying to yourself...aren't those good things? Isn't that what gets the job done at times? At times yes. But at times, my personality and the sin that is so prevalent in my life is NOT. GOOD. How so? Let me explain....because I'm such an obsessive person, I can't let things go. EVER. Scenario #1 If you said you were going to do the dishes, they have to be done RIGHT NOW, and I can't move onto anything else in my brain until they are done. So if you're not going to do it my way, which is right now, move and let me do it (which will really tick me off). Scenario #2 Because I'm a person of principles, I seem to focus on those principles rather than the person at hand. This comes up in my life more times than I can count. Let me further explain...in the first scenario said person didn't do the dishes. Now, rather than to take into consideration that said person could've gone grocery shopping, done laundry, had an awful day at work, fill in the blank, it doesn't matter. The principle was that said person was supposed to do something and they didn't do it.

Do you see how these things can become a problem? My natural reactions to things is to always get mad, to become "principled", to become controlling. But those things happen when I make a practice of putting my needs in front of others. My natural personality comes out and my view of others being first and me being second is clouded. On Sunday, Jared really focused on this principle and I had to laugh because I felt so much conviction from the Lord, and it's pretty hard hearing it through my husband. He talked about rather than fighting with your family, you need to start fighting for them. He used the example of Abram and Lot in Genesis. When they were running out of room and started fighting they just parted ways. Abram knew that it wasn't worth the argument. He chose the person (Lot) over his principles (the fact that he could've made Lot go away since everything he had was bc of his uncle in the first place). So often, I choose principles over people. That's not what Abram did and that's certainly not what Jesus did. Because I've made a "practice of sin", choosing people over principles doesn't come easy for me. So I'm trying, with the Lord's help, to focus more on people and less on my controlling, principled self.

I challenge you to do the same. The next time you feel the urge to get upset or angry, ask yourself, "Is it worth damaging the relationship? Is this issue really more important to me than this person is?" Those two questions have really shaken me and challenged me to the core. Not that I have it all together, but I'm becoming more aware of the sin in my life, and how if I want to be like Jesus, I've got to get rid of it. Otherwise "I've got him all backwards".

Pregnancy Update

I admit. I've been an awful blogger lately. I realize that some of you read my blog pretty regularly to keep up with the Hollier happenings, but I just didn't want to blog when I felt so awful....BUT I'm feeling much better these days so here's the preggo low down.

1. Went for prenatal visit on January 11. The nurse put me on a religious vitamin routine of B6, ginger root, and Pepcid AC to help with the awful, AWFUL sickness. That was on a Tuesday. She told me if I didn't feel like a new woman by Friday to call the doctor. Well Friday rolled around and I still was sick as a dog...I mean running out of my classroom people! If I were a stay at home mom I would probably make myself tough it out, but getting sick in a public school restroom is just gross. Call me a wimp. I don't care. Anyway, the doctor prescribed me the most angelic, holy, God given medicine called Zofran. And I've been a new woman ever since. Thank you Jesus!

2. Yesterday (February 7) I went for my 10 week visit with the doctor. The nurses tried to find the heart beat just like they tried with Sam and to no avail they couldn't find it. I will admit that a part of me didn't want them to find it just so I could get an ultrasound (for those who don't know this happened with Sam the first 4 visits to the doctor...I got lots of pictures!). I layed down and began explaining all this to the new nurses who had since joined the practice and before you know it they sent me to get an ultrasound! Yay! And that's what we saw! Our little one's heart beat was 173 and it was moving around like crazy! If we have to get an ultrasound next month when we go, the ultrasound tech said she'd be able to tell if it was a boy or a girl by then. So here's to me praying that this little one moves as much as big brother did! We're so excited and can't wait to find out what he/she is and welcome it into the family. I'm also very excited that I'm feeling better. I didn't have this trouble with Sam so this was quite unexpected and frankly unwelcome!

There's nothing like seeing your baby moving on that monitor. It's an undescribable feeling. The only word I can think of is "miraculous". There's nothing I could have done that would be good enough to deserve the honor of carrying and raising children. There is not a harder more humbling experience. God's grace is sufficient. He is so good. We're just praising God for our little one.

The Big News

The news is out...well to those who have email, facebook, skype, etc. We are expecting baby #2! After my miscarriage in June, I became very anxious about being able to get pregnant again. With Sam, everything was so easy and textbook. Not a worry entered my mind with him. I just prayed everyday and moved on. It wasn't until after he was born that I began to hear stories of pregnancy complications/delivery complications. Now with all the knowledge of what "could" go wrong, I found myself scared. I didn't know if I could get pregnant again. And if I could, who's to say I wouldn't miscarry again? It was a lot of anxiety. I finally realized that I just needed to chill out (that was right around December...when many people are not chilled out). A couple of weeks into the month Patty called me and told me she had had a dream that I was pregnant with a girl and didn't even know it. At that point, I wanted to be pregnant and had already taken two pregnancy tests that turned up negative. My body had all the symptoms of pregnancy that they did with Sam, but I thought that my mind was playing tricks on me. That I wanted to be pregnant so bad that I was making up the symptoms and looking into everything. Well....on New Years Eve day I decided I had had enough with the guessing game. I needed to know. And guess what? Yep. It was positive! I was so excited to finally have some relief! I wasn't crazy after all!

Now I'm about 8 weeks in...and feeling awful! I'm grateful for the awful feelings but ready for them to pass. With Sam I was sick for about 2 weeks beginning around week 12. It always hit right after lunch. This go 'round I'm nausous all the time and I'm dizzy from the medicine the doctor has me taking. I'm taking the same medicine I had to take with Sam, but for some reason the side effects are way worse! Not to worry...I'm praying and moving on! By the nurse's calculations my due date is around September 5. Sam and baby #2 will be a little over two years apart (just barely).

I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about this little one. Right now we're in the midst of praying for a couple who's baby will not survive. The brain and skull are not developed and will not develop. Hearing things like that makes me grateful for all that I have with Sam and all that I'm going through with this little one as well. Pregnancy is truly a miracle and gift from God! I'm praying daily for a healthy and growing baby. Would you join me in this too? I will certainly keep you posted and am so relieved that I don't have to lie (or withhold the truth) about what's going on with me. Most days, I don't feel like doing much. And Jared has been amazing already! I just hope I don't feel this bad the whole time....poor guy is doing EVERYTHING right now. He's the best, and I'm so blessed to be his wife.

I hope this answers all the questions and curiosities. We're so excited and can't wait to meet our little one. Sam is going to be an amazing big brother. I can tell already. He loves to help, and plays with little babies any chance he gets. Such fun times are awaiting. God is so good.

Happy 17 months, Sam!

In recognition of Sam's 17 months of life in this world, here's a recap of what we've been up to lately:

1. Obeying: Thank you, Lord! Sam says the word "back" when we ask him to put something back. He'll even take his toys from the living room all the way to his bedroom! Wow...let's hope this continues. He knows how to close doors, throw things away, and try to get undressed (for bath time of course). He is quickly learning how to listen and do the things we are asking him to do, which is wonderful. Things we're working on: NO. He's not getting this picture. He is really obedient to do the things we ask him to do, but the things that are "no no's" he's not so much obedient. We are working through this daily, and it's probably the hardest thing about this parenting stage. If he could just learn that no means don't do it, then we'd all be great. How true that is in our own lives as well.

2. Development: Sam is loving books more everyday. It's not unusual for him to grab a book and plop in my lap, us read it, put it "back", and get another one at least 5 times before he's ready to move onto something else. Right now we're working on shapes and sounds. He knows that trucks/cars say "vroom" and cows say "moo". He can also say/identify "star" and we're semi ready to move onto other shapes like circle and heart. He can also sort shapes (which is a big deal bc he used to get so frustrated he would throw the blocks...yep, that's hard headed for ya). He's also learned to dance, which is the funniest thing ever! He just stomps his feet over and over...so cute!

3. Talking: I'm so thankful for Sam's talking. I was so stressed for the longest that he wouldn't talk, but now it seems everyday he is mimicking more of what we say. Here's a list of what he's saying so far:
mama, dada, snack, more, back(for put it back), back back (for back pack), star, light, bye, stack, bath, moo (for cows), vroom (for any loud vehicle), yo (for both Yo Gabba and yogurt), book, night (for night night), door, nana (for both banana or Nana), Maw (for Memaw), Paw (for PawPaw...we're still working on Gran), ball, Jesus, baby, and dog. I think that's about it. It's crazy when you sit down and try and think of all the things he says. The next thing we're working on is please, thank you, and Amen. The cutest thing to see is when we pray before meals or before bed how his face lights up. I wonder what's going on in that little mind of his, and I can't wait to watch him grow in the Lord. I pray every night for him...that He would love and serve the Lord all the days of his life.

4. Playing: Sam's favorite things to do in no particular order would be reading books with Mama, throwing balls with Daddy, drawing with who ever will let him stand on their legs to reach the tipsy top of the easel, playing basketball (more like dunking with Daddy), scooting on his giraffe bicycle, playing with the talking ear thermometer (he sleeps with that thing....weird), and last but certainly not least the refrigerator. I remember when we got our fridge wondering why there was a lock button on the ice and water....now I know. We have to make sure every single time we use it that we lock it back, otherwise there will be a giant puddle all over the floor right beside a soaking wet toddler! Oh, the joys! :)

What an amazing gift God has given us with our little Sambo! I never could have possibly imagined how great our life would be with him in it. Happy Birthday, buddy! Mama loves you!

Lessons learned from the doctor's office

On Thursday afternoon I took off of work early so that I could take Sam to the doctor in Beaumont. He had been sick for a few days with a runny nose that turned into a bad cough which in turn led to a sad wheezing noise which broke my heart. We made his appointment for 3:00 hoping that we wouldn't have to wait long. Yeah right. We, along with many other sick children, filled the waiting room. We were in there trying to contain our little bundle of joy for an hour! Now before I go on, I need to make a confession. Sam is a super sweet kid, and most of the time a funny, curious one at that. BUT...when he is sick, he turns into the crazy kid. He's whiny, clingy, and, worst of all, a biter. Yes, I said it. I have a biter on my hands, people. I'm not sure where he picked up on this, and he doesn't do it to many people (except those that he loves dearly) but when he gets mad he bites things or people. Sometimes it's the couch, on that day it was his daddy's leg, and once we got into the exam room the doctor's spinning chair. We've gone past the swat on his hand, the firm "no", and now we are in the full fledged "pop your bottom hard" business. And can I just say, IT'S. THE. WORST. It takes all I can do not to cry too when he does. Anyway, for an hour we're trying to corral our son with books and trucks and looking around, but to no avail- he is awful! We finally had to pop him right there in front of everyone! It was so embarrassing that we were the ones with "that kid". I hate being that person. After we waited for an hour in the waiting room to see the doctor, we then go in through the doors where Sam immediately starts crying and wailing like he remembers the torture from last time! Step on the scale to find out our big boy now weighs 27 1/2 lbs! Wow! After that, we then wait another 30 minutes in the room. At this point we are all tired, Sam needs a nap, and let's be honest...those rooms are so small! So what do we do? Well....Jared starts blowing up the hospital gloves to make balloons, that's what! After two of those broke, we then taught Sam how to spin the doctor's chair. At this point, we'd do anything to keep him occupied. Finally the doctor comes in and more wailing and clinging begins. The prognosis was bronchitis for which he gave us many prescriptions, and now I think Sam is on his way to recovery. BUT...let me share with you some lessons I've learned from this experience:

1. I downloaded this app on my phone called Zoodle last night. It is age appropriate interactive videos and games for kids to use. All I did was type in Sam's birthdate and it found all these things for him to do. What's cool is that as he gets older the games will update with him. AND it locks him into that setting so he can't go on other parts of my phone or facebook or call China. We will definitely be using this next time. They also have this available to download for your computer in case your little one also enjoys "your" computer time. :)

2. Bring crayons. The covers of the examining table are basically paper and they throw them away wafter each use, so we can color all over them. A friend of mine gave me that tip AFTER I had mentioned how awful our experience was! We will also be packing those for next time!

3. The Sneaky Chef cookbook. This is one thing that our pedi recommended. When he said Sam was growing like a big boy, I smarted off that I didn't know how because he certainly wasn't eating like one. He told me about how they do things like sneak spinach into brownies! Certainly worth a try since our son literally lives off of breakfast bars and yogurt.

I hope these tips help you the next time you find yourself waiting for LONG periods of time with a restless toddler.

Feel free to share any other tips you may have! I'm sure this won't be our last waiting experience!