blog nesting

I've been doing a lot of "nesting" lately. Going through closets, cleaning the van, rearranging furniture, getting rid of furniture, boxing up clothes and toys to send to Mexico, trying to fill out the older boys baby books so I can feel less guilty about starting yet another one... Stuff like that.

One afternoon last week there was a bit of a cool breeze so the boys and I went out in the front yard to play and wait for Brandon to get home. While we were out there, I decided I needed to get something out of the van. Before I knew it, I was cleaning out the van... Every crack and cranny. When Brandon got home, he found me and two of the boys in the van (they were "helping") and one still playing outside of it waiting for him to get home. He had a very puzzled look on his face when I told him I just needed the van clean. He went in the house, changed clothes and came out with cleaning supplies and helped me clean it to my liking. {Can I just say, I have an amazingly wonderful husband! Okay, back to my story...} About 15 minutes from being finished he asked me, "So... is this what they mean when they say a pregnant woman is 'nesting'??" My answer was simply, "Yes. I think it is." 

Well today, I am... blog nesting. Is that possible? I think, yes, it must be because that's what I am feeling at the moment. I started looking at past posts and there is SO much that has happened recently that I have neglected to blog about. And I'm afraid with a new baby coming into our lives in just two short weeks (EEEK!!) I won't get to any of it. So I have a plan. A blog nesting plan. I am going to blog every day (at least once a day) for a week to catch up!

I know what some of you are thinking... "Can she do it?? Isn't this after all the same woman who swiped her friend's keys thinking they were hers and tried for at LEAST 10 minutes in the 100+ degree heat to start her car before calling her husband to come rescue her with his set of keys. And then left the friend stranded without her keys who had to call her husband to rescue her? Only to find both her set of keys and the friends set of keys in her purse (after the friend came by to see if that was in fact what had happened)?" Well, to answer you... Yes, I did do that. But VW keys look just alike! AND I'm working with a pregnancy brain people, so give me a break!

You may also be thinking, "What should we expect to see in the next few posts?" Well... along with realizing I hadn't blogged about our summer activities I also realized I never blogged about a couple of other things that happened a long time ago. For instance...
 
I never blogged about Kohen turning 1.

I never blogged about Peyton turning 3.

You, "gasp!"
Me, "I know!"

I am ashamed... How can I blog about Tristan who just turned 5 (which happened earlier this month) and then soon blog about our 4th baby (who still remains nameless as far as you know) when I haven't blogged about those milestones in the other boys lives?!

Sigh.

So... I am going to clean up this mess and "nest" a bit.

Before I go, I think I should add a clause to this though... Just in case something miraculous happens and this baby decides to come early (even though I highly doubt it)... We'll just say that will be the only thing that should keep me from completing this week of blog nesting. Okay? Okay. (These one sided conversation we have are so very nice)

This concludes my post for today but I'll be seeing you tomorrow. 

"In the Middle of Me"

I have thought about this a few times recently... I don't think I have ever explained my blog title. So here I am at 1 am about to blog about it. You know, because there is nothing else for me to be doing. Oh, what's that, sleep? Naaa, rest is for wimps.

(insert picture of the husband dragging me out of bed in the morning before he leaves for work)

Ahem. Shall we continue?

In the world we live in, we are sold a lie about who we really are...

You are the car you drive • You are the food you eat • You are the places you go • Who you are is defined by the clothes you wear • How big your bank account is • How successful your spouse is • How many kids you have • And so on and so on.

I have found myself getting sucked into and buying into this lie more often than I would I like to admit. But I have. I wonder what people will think all too often. Or thought I was defined by this or that.

Our pastor, Dr. Moody, once made a statement that still to this day rings in the ears of my heart.

"We must come to the point in our lives where we realize that HE is the best part of who we are."

The "HE" he mentioned is Jesus Christ. Isn't that the truth? I am only who I am because of Christ. I have what I have because of Him. And even on my good days, my righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Ewww. I mean, seriously! Do you know what that's talking about?!

He is the best part of me.

Even when I don't want to believe that, I can get honest with myself. I can look at myself in the mirror and think about what hides in the depths of my heart. It's then that I am faced with a brutal reality, I am in need. I am not enough. I can't do it on my own, whatever it may be.

He must forgive me. He must cover me. He must redeem me.

Have you seen in those things anything I do? I am who I am because HE forgave me. HE covers me. HE redeemed me.

Who I really am is who I am in Christ.

He is the best part of me.

And yet, I still get so caught up in the things of this world. The labels. The expectations.

My desire in starting a blog, was to open up a window into my world. To our family and friends (and whoever else happened to stumble across it) so they might peek in and see where we laugh, live, love, struggle and grow. If you know me, then you know I am far from having anything "together" so to speak. I often joke about my struggle with "keeping crazy in the box" {a blog for another day}. I am just trying to keep it real. And this is me being real.

I want so badly for Him to be the center. The center of me, my marriage, my home, and my world. The thing that people go back to when they think of us. That they would think of Him.

Does that happen all the time? No. But I continue to strive. To seek. To listen. To follow. As He moves, draws, speaks, and leads.

I got the words "In the Middle of Me" from a song from one of my favorite artists, Shane Bernard.

Holiday
You are my holiday.

You are right in the middle of me.

You are my hideaway.

You are home.

Calling out your name.

Oh, my holiday.

You make my heart new.

I love you.

What it is I'm trying to say

You are my favorite part of me.

This song coupled with the thought that He truly is the best part of me is why I have named my blog what I have. Even in my blogging, I want to share the best part of me along with the rest (and just so you know "the rest" can get ugly). I want to be open. Honest. Because I always want Him to be right In the Middle of me and known as my favorite part of who I am.

Catch Up!

Where to start? I have a lot to cover! Updates on life, the boys (in and out of the belly), my wonderful husband, decorating status, random things that come to mind, etc. Ok! With my glass of milk and pile of Oreos by my side I am going to attempt to get it all in here. Here we go!

We had our second sonogram done a couple of weeks ago and baby boy had a clean bill of health! The cyst that had been found in the previous sonogram was gone! Glory be to God! He was gracious to answer our prayers and heal our baby. I was 26 weeks the day I had the sono done and he was measuring 26 weeks and 5 days, meaning he's a big boy! Of course we could've told them that he was going to be. The nurse actually said his head was a bit large and again we could've called that too!

I am growing and feeling huge a lot of days. But I also realize I have a lot of growing to do before November gets here! Tristan has noticed that mommy is growing also. He LOVES to talk to the baby in mommy's tummy. Just the other day he asked to talk to the baby. This is what he said:

T "Hi baby, what are you doing? What are you doing in there?"

Me "What's he doing?"

T "Um... he's playing. He's playing in the ball."

It took me all of 3 sec to realize I was the "ball" he was referring to!

Peyton is still oblivious to the fact that he is no longer the baby and that there will be an intruder in November that we will all fondly refer to as his little brother. I am praying it won't be a hard transition for him. He is so good at being the baby! And doesn't love it when I or Brandon hold another baby. Not at all. It might make for some interesting stories and blog posts for our future. Stay tuned...

After much deliberation and prayer we finally came up with a name for this baby boy! His name is Kohen Miles Davis. Isn't that sweet? We love it!! Kohen is hebrew word for Priest (actually spelled Cohen after translation) and Miles is a family name. My great parents last name. It was not an easy decision but we are thrilled with the outcome and can't wait to put a face with the name!

Tristan likes the name Kohen for his baby brother and has decided that the monkey he often sleeps with is now named Kohen as well. He also wants Peyton to be able to say it. Tristan to Peyton earlier this week:

T "Peyton, can you say Kohen?"

P "Todee."

T "Say Ta Ta Ta... Ko hen."

P "Da Da Da... Todee."

I believe he was trying to say, "Ka" for the 'K' sound but it came out all wrong. We're still working on it. Both, Tristan's teaching skills and Peyton being able to say Kohen.

I'd like to brag for a minute on my hubby. A few weekends ago Brandon had planned on going on an axis hunt that had been on his calendar since early spring. The night before he was to leave on this hunt he got a call that it had been canceled! He was very disappointed and had been so looking forward to the hunt along with spending time with some of his good friends. He had the weekend off and had already lined up people to fill in for him Sunday. So what did he do? He took me off for the weekend! We dropped the boys off with the grands and headed Dallas. We had a great time!

With all that's gone on this summer (Camp, World Changers, Mission trips, Staff retreat, etc.) we haven't had much time together. From the end of May through the beginning of this month he was gone every other week from the boys and me (except for camp when I went with him). So it was very nice to get away with my honey. We have so much fun together. He makes me laugh like no one else. He is the best and I thank God for him every day.

I am so glad this summer is coming to a close. It has been a long one! Fall is quickly approaching, you can almost smell it. Well... I did say almost. I am so ready for cooler weather. This fall holds a lot for us as a family. Like, a third child being born and Brandon finishing up his education at The Criswell College in Dallas. He has 3 classes to complete and he'll be finished in December! Yay!! I am so proud of him for sticking with it. I know it's not been easy.

As far as our decorating expedition going on in our home... I am loving the color!!!!!!!!! I can't even say how nice it has been not to be starring at the apples and finally see some reflection of who we are on our walls. We are far from finished and I would be posting a picture but for some reason I am having trouble loading pictures today. Shucks. I guess you'll just have to wait and see the finished product! (or maybe I'll post a sneak peek sometime next week:)

I had planned on posting pictures along with this post but as I said, blogger is acting dumb for me. So that will just encourage me to post some soon. I have really dropped the ball on blogging lately. I do enjoy it and have said so often that it would be good to sit and blog. But the times I have I've been so muddled in my thoughts, when things come out they just haven't sounded right. I am blaming this on my "pregnant brain".

Hear me out on this. I am convinced when you get pregnant someone sneaks into your home in the middle of the night and snatches the brain you are currently functioning on and replaces it with a "pregnant brain". This brain will not allow you to remember simple addition at the grocery store, cause you to look for your keys for 5 minutes while they're actually in your left hand, forget your own maiden name, not allow you to remember you have already washed your hair twice so you wash it yet a third time and you most will definitely change subjects mid sentence without missing a beat. All the while the people around you are wondering what is wrong with you! I am so looking forward to sometime around November when that same someone will sneak back into my house and give me back my not so crazy non-pregnant brain.

Well, I believe that's it for now. I'm not sure if it's all in here but I am done for the night. Plus my Oreos are long gone. Hope you enjoyed my ramblings. Until next time...

To Blog or Not to Blog

I've been contemplating starting a blog for a while now. I have quite a few friends who blog and have done nothing but encourage me to start one of my own. I've been told by one friend it is good for your brain by encouraging mental health. It's good for our soul to be able to let things out and being able to express life in your own words. And helps to let others know what God is doing in your life. To let others know they're not alone. After looking at all of these things:

I could definitely use some mental medicine!! Some days it's hard to keep crazy in it's box. 

I love telling family and friends all the neat things we experience day to day with two growing little boys and the things we face as believers as we live out Christ to our neighbors and people around us.

Let's face it we're all a little crazy at times and it is good to know you're not alone.

So after praying about it and talking it over with my husband, here I am a blogger. I hope you will journey with me and leave comments as you desire. Thanks for reading the first of many. Leanna