.smiling.

Daniel started smiling this week, which I just love. It really gives him more of a personality.

.buddies.

I am truly grateful that Kathryn has been so loving towards Daniel. It's fun thinking of their little friendship in the future. Speaking of which, do any of my readers have thoughts/ideas on how to move a baby in the same room with a toddler? We're thinking of moving the kids in together this summer sometime...has anyone reading this done that? Any advice?

.siblings.

I found this video on my camera...I think it's from the day we brought Daniel home from the hospital. He's a lot bigger now than in this movie, but you get the idea of how much Kathryn dotes on "her Daniel." I love it.

.growing boy.

I took Daniel to the pediatrician for his belated 1-month check up. He is already 11 lbs. 14 oz! No wonder he seems like he's getting bigger...95th % for weight, 97th % for height. They really do grow quickly!

.crazy girl.

Love her to death...she keeps us laughing.

"My Daniel"

Kathryn lovingly calls Daniel "My Daniel." She really loves him and acts very protectively if anyone else is holding him.

Easter

We enjoyed a lovely Easter this past Sunday, although I missed most of the church service since I was out in the lobby with Kathryn. She is still on the tail end of her cold, so I couldn't put her in children's ministry. But we enjoyed lunch at the Seavers and did an easter egg hunt for the kids. I realized that we didn't have any family pictures yet that included Daniel, so here is one.

Delightfully discovering jelly beans in her Easter basket

.question.

Okay, here's a question for any of you moms reading this. I am trying to get Daniel a little more organized with his eating and sleeping, and he's been pretty predictable about eating. But almost without fail, 45 min. into his naps he wakes up crying, and I can't figure out how to help him get back to sleep. Typically I'll lay him down about an hour after feeding him, and he'll fall right asleep, but then wake up at 45 min. on the dot. I remember Kathryn did this too until she was about 4 months old. Do some babies just need less daytime sleep? Advice? Thoughts?

.more pictures.

Just got these pictures off of Jeanie's camera- she took them the day Daniel was born. On a side note, Nick gets back tomorrow from the SGM Leadership Conference in Maryland, and we'll be so glad to have him home! Thankfully things have gone pretty smoothly while he's gone, but I miss my best friend!

.one month.

Wow- Daniel is one month old today. In some ways it's hard to believe he's already a month old, but then it's hard for me to imagine him not being part of our family. He still feels very much like a newborn, and I still am trying to figure out some basics (like what position he sleeps best in, establishing a routine, etc.) When compared to Kathryn's 2-year-old colorful personality, Daniel seems a bit of a bump on a log. (Bad for me for saying that about my own child! It's okay, Daniel, you'll have personality soon enough...)

At one month old: Daniel loves being held, sleeps a good part of the day, eats at fairly predictable times (most days, anyway), usually only has me getting up once at night to feed him, is not fond of his bassinet, gets MAD when he's mad (it's almost funny), LOVES baths, has record-breaking volume of sound in bodily functions, is a sweet baby with a fairly laid-back personality, and we love him to death.

Today the last meal *sniff* was brought to us. I'm amazed that they lasted this long, helped by not starting until after my mom left. What a HUGE blessing these meals have been. I have not given one thought to cooking or meal planning, and my grocery trips have been quick in and out trips for milk and snack foods. Thankfully my freezer is stocked full, so I have another month or so before I really have to worry about cooking, at which point I think I'll be ready to get back at it. I'm slowly adding in going to meetings, although we've missed a few due to all being sick this week. My main goal for these two weeks are 1)establishing a morning routine, and 2) adding basic household chores back in. This last week has definitely had me on my knees at times, flipping through Psalms for truth and comfort. But overall, I do feel like the Lord is slowly expanding my capacity. I think the hardest thing this month has been learning to "juggle" both kids' schedules and needs...like when both kids are screaming (which happened twice yesterday), figuring out how to meet both kids' needs. But there has been much grace even in those moments of trial, and I am thankful for some sweet times with the Lord this month.

Here are some pictures of the little man:

"Oh My! One Month already??!!? Where has the time gone?"

Happy Boy

.bath time.

One of Kathryn's favorite activities of the day...

.living ministry.

I just finished reading John Piper's "What's the Difference: Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible." I highly recommend it as a good and also concise book on the subject of Biblical manhood and womanhood. At the end of the book, Piper has a chapter which is essentially his challenge and prayer for Christian men and women. In his challenge to women, he writes:

"[I pray] that you not assume that secular emplyment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home, the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world; that you not only pose the question; career or full-time homemaker?, but that you ask just as seriously: full-time career or freedom for ministry?"

This quote struck me in asking myself if I view my life as full-time ministry. As a stay at home wife and mom of two young children, my main calling is to be a loving wife to Nick, manage our home, and mother Kathryn and Daniel. In a sense, these three areas are a ministry in and of themselves. But beyond that, am I looking at my life as a full-time mission field? Am I using extra down time to follow through with things to bless others? Things like praying for loved ones in my life, writing an encouraging note to a friend, following up with someone in Care Group over email, chatting with my unsaved neighbor? Sadly, these are things that I often think, "I should do this..." and then never follow through. And it's not always for lack of time. So freshly challenged, I am trying to be more faithful with my time to orient myself towards others. Here's another part of Piper's challenge:

"[I pray] that you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific calling; that you not fritter your time away on soaps or women's magazines or unimportant hobbies or shopping; that you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom."


May I walk in a manner worthy of my calling...

.homemade bread.

It's another rainy day here, and it's a perfect day to fill the house with the smell of homemade bread. We're having soup and bread for dinner tonight, and I thought I'd post the recipe that I almost exclusively use anymore when I make honey wheat bread. It is so yummy! I use my bread machine to make the dough, then cook the bread in the oven, so I'll post directions doing it that way (very easy!) Here's a link, though, to the original recipe if you don't have a bread machine.

HONEY WHEAT BREAD

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk- I usually just use regular milk warmed in the microwave to room temp, but evaporated milk makes it extra yummy.
  
• 1/4 cup melted shortening (I use butter)
  
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. Place water, yeast, and sugar in bread machine and let it sit for a few minutes
2. Add all the rest of the ingredients (in order) through salt.
3. Set bread machine to DOUGH setting and press Start. I usually watch to make sure the dough gets into a ball...you might have to add a little more flour. Or water if it's too dry. On my bread machine, this cycle takes an hour and 20 min.
4. When the dough is done, punch down. Divide in two.
5. Roll out dough flat with a rolling pin, then roll up dough into a loaf, tucking the ends under and pinching the seams.
6. Place seam-side down in two greased 9x5 loaf pans, butter tops, and cover loosely with saran wrap. Let rise in a warm place til double, about 30 min.
7. Place a small pan of hot water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
8. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes (20-25 min in my oven), or until tops are dark golden brown. Butter crusts while warm. Slice when cool.