Fun, part two.

Just some more iPhone pics...

My little dare devel... see his wagon on top of the recliner? Yeah, he was rocking back and forth till mama put the ka-bosh on it.

Later that day I was switching the load of laundry when I heard him giggling to himself. Looked over and saw that he had climbed up the storage tote and laid down in the laundry basket. Ohhh, to be almost two...

Yep, he's cute. And I love love love it when people say he looks like his mama. A lady at church told me that and I wanted to hug her and take her out for dinner to show my appreciation.

Cohen has this new requirement that a blanket must be over his face in order for him to fall asleep. I set him down in the swing, only to find him like this about 10 minutes later... yes, he pulled that blanket up over his head. Probably on accident, but it's no coincidence. Yes Mom, he can breathe. {I checked.}

It rained here for 5 days straight and finally we got some sun. Not only sun, but 50 degrees. Woot woot! Okay Texas, I guess I kinda like your weather right now.

We're a bunch of sickies... although now on the mend.

My adorable little guy. He is so full of smiles. He brings so many smiles to my face too.

Jaxon's new fascination is with the movie Cars. We literally have watched it every day for over a week now. {don't send me hate mail about my child watching too much TV. he only watches 1 movie per day. it just happens to be the same one daily.}

He's convinced he's still the baby.

My boys on a walk. Yep, its nice enough to go on walks. Don't hate...

...honestly, I'd trade you for your snow.

Hope your week is great!

I am currently...

stealing this from grace. :)

listening: to nothing. boys sleeping. bliss.

eating: goldfish crackers.

drinking: diet coke. my guilty pleasure.

wearing: skinny jeans, black shirt, and a white/black cardigan from gap.

feeling: unmotivated.

needing: a date night. and a babysitter.

making: the boys wall art. and stuffed pasta shells for dinner.

thinking: about the speeding ticket i got this morning, and how to pay for it.

enjoying: my husbands warm legs against my freezing cold feet at night.

wondering: when i will see family again.

grateful for: grace. hope. and friendship.

what about you?

Frustration.

No matter how hard I've been trying to wash hands frequently, take our vitamins daily, disinfect every time I think of it..... my boys are sick again.

We went out of the house ONCE last week. Just ONCE! And the following morning Jaxon woke up with a really deep cough and snotty nose. 4 days later it has not gotten any better and he's now running a fever. So you know what that means, Cohen now has the same thing. Fever, deep cough, and congestion.

No matter how many times I hear that its not my fault, I can't help but wonder what I'm doing wrong. My heart just shatters when my babies are sick. I'm their Mom - I'm supposed to protect them. Our home is supposed to be a refuge. I am not supposed to be afraid of leaving the house. But I am.

Off to the doctor we go ... again. The hospital bills might bankrupt us by the end of the year if this continues the way it has the last few months.

Lord, seriously... what are you trying to teach me?

Sigh..... appreciate your prayers.

Brothers.

It's funny that I hear so often how much Cohen resembles Jaxon. On the other hand, I hear just as often how much they do NOT look alike. Personally, I don't see it. I think Cohen looks like a Carmichael and Jaxon looks identical to his Daddy... a Keith through and through.

Some comparison pictures...

Jaxon, fresh out of the womb:

Cohen, fresh out of the womb:

Jaxon at the hospital, just a day old:

Cohen at the hospital, just a day old:

Jaxon at 1 month old:

Cohen at 1 month old:

Jaxon at 2 months old:

Cohen at 2 months old:

I guess as I'm looking at these side by side I can see a little resemblance early on, in their first couple days of life. But especially the 2 month pictures, I don't think they look alike at all.

I guess my opinion may be swayed because I am comparing everything about them and know they are two very different babies... maybe that's why I don't see the resemblance.

What do you think?

Love.

Words are so important to me.

In fact, they're so important to me, that "words of affirmation" is my #1 love language. My second is "quality time". If you're not familiar with what I'm talking about here's a short break-down. Basically the simple principle is this: everyone feels loved a different way, and finding out how your spouse feels loved, will help you love them better. {that's a whole lotta 'love' for one sentence!} You can take the assessment here.

My husbands love language is "acts of service", second is "receiving gifts". Holy buckets -- completely opposite of me. So you can see where this can be a struggle at times... it does not come natural for him to tell me how beautiful I look or how great of a Mom I am, instead he'll do the dishes for me thinking that's how I'll feel his love. And I can sit and tell him how amazing of a husband he is and how hard of a worker he is, but unless his laundry is done and the house looks nice, he may not fully appreciate those words coming out of my mouth. Make any sense?

The problem with words being so important to me, is that I thrive on them. If someone sends me a text or email full of words of encouragement, you better believe that just made my day. If someone tells me that I look nice, it makes me feel confident in myself. If someone tells me I'm a great Mom, I stop doubting myself... for that day anyway. And the same goes if I don't hear it... if I just slaved for an hour in the kitchen making supper and Tyler doesn't rave about how great dinner was, I feel defeated. If I spend a lot of time trying to look nice for the day, and he doesn't say a word about it, I feel like it was a waste of time.

See the problem here?

I am not sure how to fix this. As corny as it may sound - I know that I need to find my joy, my contentment, my peace, and encouragement in Jesus. He alone is the reason that I live. He alone is the reason I move and breathe. And in him, I will find peace in this too-often discontent heart of mine.

Anyone else struggle with these kinds of feelings? I feel like every day is a battle sometimes.

And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? My hope is in You.

Psalm 39:7