first things first

The fun thing about having
a new baby is there are a lot
of "firsts" you get to capture.
First outing, first tub time,
first tooth that came in and
so on. Taking pictures and
keeping track of all the "firsts"

 

for all three of these boys is keeping this mama very busy!

Pauly's first time meeting Martin.

 

William's first time meeting Martin.
 

 

Here is the first outing for Martin to go outside and watch his brothers play.
I just adored this picture.

 

 

Pauly lost his first tooth days before I went in to have Martin. ...

Dad helped a little.

You can envision a string and a countdown... eeeeek!

 

AND Pauly learned how to ride his bike.

He taught himself!

Martin's first time meeting his Auntie Holly.

First funny t-shirt *wink*

First tub time!! He doesn't look too impressed but I think he really liked it.

Love that face.

First time going to eat at a restaurant as a family of five.

Thank goodness he slept the whole time.

The two big boys were awesome. Here is Pauly and Daddy.

William and Mama. William was just about to put his fork in his mouth.

First photo session with mama.

First nap in his big boy crib.

First fun evening with the sprinkler under the new trampoline!!

First doctor's appointment. Marty was so brave. ... so was mama.

First cozy nap time with the best daddy.

 First time to Granny and Grandad's house.

 

First time to Aunt Cici, Uncle Brian and Carti's house.

 

First time being attacked by a dog.

 

First photo session of our 3 sons. 

 

...your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

Psalm 128:3b

sweet sweet 16

T
hankful today. Thankful for little
kicks inside my belly. Thankful for
my nice warm house. Thankful for
mega sweet boys that give great hugs
and precious kisses and they don't hold
back. Thankful for evenings with my...

 

 

...husband where we sit and visit ...

and dream about this little one.

 

Thankful for 16.

WEEK 16 that is.

Little baby baby bundle has now reached the "avocado"-size of this precious adventure.

 I still can't quite believe I'm already

FOUR MONTHS along!!

I'm getting more and more excited and more and more thankful that I get to

experience this beautiful joy

one.

more.

time.

We went to yet another doctor's appointment today.
We got to hear the baby's heartbeat again and it is going strong!
So thankful.



These last two pictures, I totally took in my doctor's restroom because I didn't want to forget to take some cute pics of my fun outfit I was wearing. My hair-ja-bob was from Casi's wedding!
Isn't it cute?

Yeahhhhh... I'm a goob.

No shame though.

My boys are getting so funny about the baby coming. Doing things like getting out an extra table-setting when it's dinner time and such.

It's so precious. I just adore their thoughtful, little hearts.



Pauly has come up with some doozy names. For a boy, he told us a while back he liked Pringus (if you are slowly tipping your head to the left or right - then you feel our pain) and then for a girl, he told us last night, that he likes Brella.

You read that right - Brella.

Now you can join me in the never ending singing in your brain of Umbrella by Rihanna.
Brella, Brella..... ugh.

That's all that keeps going through my head since he told us that he likes that name.

Thank you, Pauly!!

William is still adamant that it is a boy and yesterday at lunch he said he was full and that he was going to save the rest of his lunch for the baby. lol!!!!

Yeah... whatever can get you away from having to eat the rest of your lunch there big kid.


So yes,

16 weeks.

My next doctor's appointment is the first part of February and that is when we find
out if the nursery shall stay baby blue

or

if it shall get a whole new shade of girl <3 p="p">

~ outage ~

A
few weeks back, our power
went out for about two or
three hours. We had already
had dinner and I had just got
done making rice crispy treats.

The timing of the power outage worked out perfectly.

It was still daylight out so we all got our shoes on and took some cookies
to the newer neighbors across the street and then when we got home and after the kids played for about an hour, the sun had went all the way

down and the house was pretty dark.

One of the best things about the power going out is
lighting candles and doing things by candle light only.
::sigh::
LOVE it.


When we were little girls, mom would round up the candles and we would get them all lit up and then we would play games, visit or sing.

As it got dark the kids pretty much had to stay in the same room as the candles
and then I remembered that our lab top probably had some battery left in it from being charged up before the power went out - so I set the kids up with 'Finding Nemo'.

One of my all time favorites.

The kids were so excited to watch a movie on the laptop as if it is more special -
more fun or something.

I  can remember thinking that way when I was little, can't you?

 (the pic above was with no flash and the one below was with the flash - crazy huh!)

All three of their faces in this picture cracks me up  - especially Sweet Pea's. Lol!

 Casi serenaded me on the guitar - she is getting so good at the guitar!
So proud of her!

Isn't it weird that we can enjoy this kind of thing every night but far too often,
we get caught up in what's on the tele, and we send our kids to go play with their toys in another room
or set them up with a cartoony away from us when really we know the good memories and precious family time is just a light-switch away.

Why do we wait for the power to go out to spend this type of quality time together?

Ben has a sister that once a month - they have "Amish night".

They turn out all the lights

and play games by candle light.

Good idea, huh!?

I think it is time our family adopts some type of tradition similar to "Amish Night".

What kind of fun things do you and your family do during a power outage?

or just to be together?

~ 180 ~

T
his is a video that was shared
with me a couple weeks back.
It will literally challenge your
thinking and views regarding
the Holocaust of the past ...
and the present...

added later...

I decided that it was crucial that I note here what my views are regarding this topic and what my opinion is about this video.

I believe that any type of abortion - at any time of the life of the baby (embryo/fetus) should be illegal. I pray some day we have a leader in place, in this country, that will repeal any and all abortion laws as an option for birth-control. I, however, don't feel it is my place to judge someone who has done it - that will be done by God. For me, I feel like abortion in a way, is similar to Playing God and I firmly disagree with that. Adoption is a great alternative and should be embraced far more than it is. I, personally know of at least 5 families that would love a baby right now. this second. We, as a society, need to work on making adoption more accessible and less challenging for these families AND more of a heroic act for mothers who do not want their baby.

I believe abortion it is flat-out murder and the fact that there is someone doing it every 2 seconds, in my mind, makes IT the present-day Holocaust.

I completely agree on all levels with Living Water's tactics in this '180 movie' to, in a sense, shock people into understanding how extreme of a problem this legalized mass killing (abortion) has become in America.

Clearly, we need to do a better job educating our children regarding both. The video was proof of that. How embarrassing, America!

~ Train. And then try again ~

D
uring my walk yesterday morning, I
was watching Life Today with
John and Betty Robinson and
they were talking about the very
common term - "Try, Try Again".
This is something I grew up hearing

from my mom and dad

and it is definitely something I hear myself saying to my kids all the time.

It is very encouraging, but is it specific enough to accomplish success?

Also on the show was author, Dallas Willard. He spoke about his new book

The Divine Conspiracy

As I listened to Dallas share about his book I grew more and more interested...

He was talking about how we as Christians get stuck in a day to day drudgery and only have this tunnel vision with idea that Christianity is first and foremost an "admittance into heaven" and a large percentage of Christians live their lives with the idea that they can't really have a relationship with Christ now.

Instead, Dallas was encouraging people to disregard the thoughts of

being obedient to Christ to be thought of as "out of the question or impossible",
but to repent the complacent lives they are living and
educate themselves as to what 
Christ truly had in mind when he said to go be His disciples.

He encouraged them to
"Train. And then try again."

This example Willard used was if you do something and it fails and you are told to

try, try again - and you don't change anything - well that is going to bring the same result and quite possibly more frustration and it will very likely push you to want to give-up.

The term, "Train. And then try again" seems, to me,

to be a forward-thinking idea to bring a different result and be more likely to be a success.

While studying this - this morning, I can't help but think about being a parent.

Am I training up Christian men that will live their lives striving each day to be more Christ-like?

Loving their neighbors and turning the other cheek?

To live their lives seeking to be in God's presence at all moments or just with the end in sight?

My mom, my sisters, a few gals and I are doing a 30 day prayer for our kids and grand kids.

This was yesterday's prayer:

Let faithfulness never leave our children, but bind this virtue around their necks.

Yikes, huh. The whole things gives me goosebumps and I can't help but think, am I living a luke-warm life for Jesus? Or is it bound around my neck and am I on fire for him!
Am I being a good example for my kids?

Am I challenging my every thought and action and inspiring them to be pleasing to Christ?

Every. Single. Thought?

Every. Single. Action?

Yeahhhh... prolly not.

I don't know about you but if I don't keep close track of myself, undoubtedly, I'll stray.
I get to thinking - WOW! I'm doing amazing! I'm feeling good and SO peaceful. I forget that the reason that I am doing so good and feeling good is because I've been training myself to abide and stay in the Word.

I forget and then I get stuck in a ditch.

I get sucked into everyday life, everyday problems, everyday drama...
and round and round I go.

I have to remind myself daily that I'm not being asked to be an everyday follower of Christ, a mediocre believer, a sideline contender...

I am being asked to be a mighty warrior for Christ!
A follower that is set apart from the World.

Which means I have to deny myself daily

and give my life up to God for his plan and purpose,

to love others and strive to love them as Christ does,

to obey God and follow his commandments.

Slow to speak; quick to listen,

gentle and kind,

humble and meek,

courageous and brave.

I have to keep training myself daily to be more like Christ and

keep alert to Satan's potholes that

will, without a doubt, cause me to stumble if I let them.

and I have to do this

Every. Single. Day.

Train - everyday.
and try again - everyday.

I truly believe that eventually, my boys will see my example -

my dedication to His mission...

 

For not only do I need to strive daily to give God my whole heart and soul

for whatever he chooses to have me do...

but everyday I need to continue assisting in training up my boys, and pray that one day they will have it in their hearts to want to do the same.

This desire in my heart will, undoubtedly, effect their lives but eventually their families' lives...

~ to catch you up ~

O
h Man! I've missed blogging!
There is just something about
sharing, getting my thoughts
out and keeping in touch with
other friend's lives that I really

LOVE!

I wanted to write today to catch all ya all up on what is going on in our

little life here at her Household - 

so here goes...

God is doing amazing things in my heart! Yay! We have become involved in a

awesome church and all of us enjoy it so much! I've met some awesome women,

my kids love their kids' program and THEY all are truly part of an answered prayer.

This church happened to be a church I had drove by a half a million times and a old schoolmate

from high school's family goes there - so that was encouraging that we would know somebody there.

Just goes to prove you never know when, where, who, how God

will work in your life. He is oh, SO good!

My body is healing nicely from my surgery I had.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughtful messages to me.

I started just this week going back to the gym. I was inspired by

this gal as well as several different messages I've been hearing at church - namely,

a message from this last Sunday, regarding complacency. I hadn't ever really thought

about the word but doing the Brave Girls Soul Restoration class I did at the first of the year

definitely put a whisper in my ear and then all the things God has been putting in my road (including a sister who humps herself to work out at 5am, comes back to the house and gets herself and daughter ready for school and work - I thought, Whoa - if she can do that, I can go spend a half hour to 45 minutes at the gym every morning. I'm a tad competitive so I like to see if I can wake up before

her...  lol!) I decided it was time. I'm only on my 3rd day - so far SO GOOD. The time for myself is turning out to be such a blessing! Then when I come home my boys are still asleep and I get even more mama time and couple that with a cup of coffee and my Bible... VERY happy girl. 

Can't go wrong with that!

I think we've come into the crash and burn episodes of our life here in the Melton house - one night Pauly falls off the bunk bed onto his head, the next night William face-plants right into the wooden drawers under the bunk bed only to give himself two beautiful black eyes.
To sum it up...
THEY'RE FREAKING ME OUT!
I feel like I need to wrap them all up in some bubble wrap!
We haven't had any trips to the doctor, thankfully, but you know... scares me.

We are all LOVING the fall crisp weather that has finally shown up!
My trees are turning colors and I've got my bulbs all ready for this weekend as I attempt
to develop my green thumb...

I've given myself a new challenge and that is a weekly-challenge and I've decided I need to go to a new neighbor every week and take them cookies, a gift, or just go introduce myself. So far, it has been such a blessing and I'm so glad we decided to do it. We tend to make it a family event so far and the kids love it and finally, I'm able to meet my neighbors. We don't live in a subdivision - we live in just a old-town neighborhood that has tons of rentals... I've been using this as my excuse for years now NOT to get to know my neighbors but I decided ... (and again, this was influenced from Paula Dunn) it's time to LOVE ON my neighbors - no matter how long they stick around. No matter who they are. No matter where they live. 

So this all sums it up... We are still enjoying, very much, my sister living here with us. Sweet Pea is in her first year of school (preschool) and the boys and I go pick her up everyday at noon. It's so fun to see her sweet lil face everyday - so happy I'm there. Makes my heart skip-a-beat. I just love that girl.

Now, I've got to get on some planning and plotting for decorations for a birthday party for a very special lady in my life (more info on that later). If you have any suggestions for websites or decorations that are fun, affordable, and totally girlly - let me know. I would love to for you to share your ideas with me! I will do a post soon on what I'm working on all ready.

You all GO and enjoy your week and soak up in God's goodness!!

~ blimpie at its best ~

B
limpie, is by far my most
favorite deli sandwich place.
Its yummy and I have fond
memories of eating Blimpie
with a girlfriend of mine. It's

oh SO good.

Sometimes I feel guilty for buying Blimpie as I usually like to try and buy local vs.

buying from a national franchise but that soon passes when

I remember how tasty it is :)

On this particular day, the boys and I first went to the library for story time

and to check-out some books.

The boys are super good at the library and are always so willing to help me carry books

and get them checked out with the do-it-yourself check-out stations that our

library has.

After the library, I grabbed our sandwiches and some waters and chips

from a Stinker Station and off we headed to our favorite park.

As soon as we got there the inevitable happened, Pauly had to go potty.

Of course he did! I had just got our blanket lay down and all our sandwiches out

and everyone is good to go - but Pauly has to pee! Man!

So I wrapped everything back up and hide our library books under the picnic

blanket - I was kind of freaked out because the second we sat down up drove up

4 big orange school buses full of huge children. (Actually they were regular sized children but quite huge compared to my wee ones.)

So off we went to the bathroom and we got back, got sat down and ate our lunch.

It was quite yummy and the boys were so hungry!

I really don't know what Pauly is doing here but if I remember right,

I think he was looking for the "hole where the squirrels live".

Next I forced both of them to take a picture with me -

cuz I'm the mama and I gets what I want! Lol! I kid. I kid.

Good Heavens-ta-Betsy! I didn't realize Pauly is holding up THAT finger.

Oh well, y'all know he doesn't mean anything bad by it. Lol!

With all the kids there I was too nervous to let the kids play on the toys... I mean -

they were HUGE and EVERYWHERE.

So after lunch we looked through our library books and then went home to nap.

I try and do something like this once a week - weather permitting.

My boys love it!