Busy Month for Micah!

Warning: this is one of those gushy posts about how glad I am that Micah exists.

Intended for family members who feel the same way. :)

Micah turned 5 months old yesterday and it was one of those growing-up kind of months, to be sure!

I haven't weighed him, but my back and neck tell me that he's a much bigger chunker than he was one month ago! Some other milestones this month include:

 1. Being introduced to, and loving the jolly jumper! He can easily spend 45 minutes of drooly, uninterrupted playtime in this contraption. Micah has always loved to bear weight on his legs, so this rather heavenly for him!

2. Cutting his first tooth! This laid-back fellow would rather be held these days as he's also working on his second tooth (hence the sore back and neck). 

3. He learned to roll over! Just yesterday! For a Balfour, that's quite an accomplishment. We tend to be quite slow in the large motor movement department. :)

4. He started waking up MORE at night. That's right folks. This mom is usually up 2 or 3 times at night. Prayer and intercession gladly accepted. ;)

5. Just when we didn't think it possible, he got cuter! 

6. And droolier, too. Anyone have any suggestions for how to keep sleepers from turning orange on top from constant drool? (Aside from bibs. I have a certain dislike for bibs.)

7. True to his youngest-born nature, he turned into an attention-seeker/getter. He'll shriek, cough or coo until someone looks at him, and then he'll giggle, quite proud that it worked, yet again...

...and it always works with Ellie. She is an incredible big sister. Loves to 'babysit' for me. What a blessing.

8. Micah also got louder this month. Dinner-time conversations are a bust. Between Ellie's non-stop chatter about her take on the world, Josh's pesky-little-brother-I-must-make-random-extra-loud-robot-noises-so-Ellie-can't-talk-without-yelling-in-frustration contribution, and Micah's insanely loud bird-screech (see number 7), Rob and I often just sit and shake our heads and sigh in surrender. One day we will talk at dinner again! And then we'll miss it all.

9. He is now officially ticklish and we can get a good, belly-gut giggle out of him by doing so.

10. He wrapped his pinky finger even more tightly around my heart.

A milestone that will benefit him for years to come, I'm sure. :)

Thankful

You could say I'm a little late posting about thankfulness seeing as Thanksgiving was uh...oh dear - almost two weeks ago! On the other hand, we could just pretend we all live in the US and I'm actually quite delightfully early! Or perhaps - and I think I'll go with this one - we could all agree that every day is a good day to be thankful. So I choose today.

I am thankful.

I have so much to be thankful for, it would be crazy to even try to write it all down. But here are a few things that make my heart full this year around Thanksgiving:

1. I am alive. At any moment Jesus could choose to take my breathe away. But He hasn't! And every moment I have here is a gift.

2. I have salvation. I deserve Hell because I am human and so not like God in millions of ways. Yet I will never taste Hell because Jesus took my place on the cross and bore my gross, disgusting sin on His own shoulders. Wow. I have an eternity of tearless, painless, hunger-less, problem-less JOY to look forward to...not to mention getting to see Jesus face to face and finally understanding how much He TRULY loves me. This will be grand!

3. Every day that's rough and hard and gross I have #2 to think about, and I become more thankful.

4. For some reason, Jesus gave me a husband who loves me more than I thought any human capable of loving any other human. Rob is faithful, honest, hard-working, prayerful, respected, intelligent, funny, gifted, humble, fun-loving and amazing...and he's mine! I am so thankful.

5. For some reason, Jesus decided it would be easy for me to have kids. And He's given me three miracles. They are not always easy miracles - but they are beautiful, original miracles, and they make me smile and laugh more than anyone. They teach me so much about trusting Jesus. And I am so thankful!

6. I am not in control. I always used to think I'd be happier if I was. But please see #5. Control is a most definitely a thing of the past! And folks, I am (slowly) learning to love the chaos. And I'm learning to have a sense of humour. I am learning that TICKLING solves a multitude of problems! And I am having FUN. And I am so thankful!

7. I have a house. And a van. And couches. And a sandbox. And most recently, a beautiful coffee table. And all were gifts from God after I asked Him! He owns the whole earth, AND He actually cares enough about each of us - about ME - to answer when we ask Him. He is so faithful. And I am so thankful!

8. I finally figured out what colour I'd like to paint my kitchen. :) 'Nuff said.

9. I have amazing friends. They are all so different and so amazing.

10. There is a cinnamon bun waiting to be eaten on my counter. Thankfulness oozing out my pores...

Yup. Thanksgiving has passed and we've probably all done our traditional 'what I'm thankful for' sharing around the table, but please humour me and leave me a comment -
what are YOU thankful for today!? 

p.s. These are the photos we're NOT using for the Christmas card. Notice Micah's puke in that last one? :)


 "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Four Months

All I have to say is

 this

 boy

 melts

 my

heart!