Our Easter

Easter is probably my favorite holiday. I like it even more than Christmas. There, I said it. I've probably lost a few readers now. But to me, Christmas has become so rushed, commercialized and overbooked that it's just too much freaking work. For Easter, I don't have to decorate a tree, buy presents for everyone that interacts with me or my kids, and go to parties. My radio stations aren't hijacked for six weeks with holiday music, and I don't have to be politically correct when wishing folks a Happy Easter. And don't get me started about that Elf on the Shelf. Easter is simple, and on behalf of all the moms who don't live next door to Hobby Lobby -- let's keep it that way. 

Now, where was I? Oh yes, Easter. 

Connor had an egg hunt at school on Thursday. He is so methodical about egg hunting, and it cracks me up. He picks up an egg, opens it, surveys (or eats) the candy, hands me the egg and then moves on. In the time Connor hunted 4 eggs, the older kids had already collected their 12 allotted eggs and had moved on. 

Connor's class. E-tee (Ethan), Tess Mer Clr (Mary Claire) and their teacher, Ms. Chely

Pondering what he thinks about the jelly beans in the egg...

On Saturday, our neighborhood had an Easter Egg hunt that was a blast. We have 50 kids in our little neighborhood, many that are right around the ages of Connor and Parker. The dads went and hid all of the eggs at 8:30 and then at 9:00 the kids were free to hunt. The 0-3 year olds hunted eggs on the opposite side of the street than our house and this time, Connor got more in to it. We practiced picking up eggs, putting them in his basket and then opening all of them at the end. He caught on and would run to each egg and say, "Oh my egg!" So cute! After the egg hunt, there was an appearance by the Easter Bunny (one of the dads on the street was suckered in to wearing the costume). Connor wasn't sure at first, but then he finally wanted to take a picture with him and kept giving him high-fives!

That's Connor's cheese face!

After the neighborhood egg hunt, we spent the rest of our day out in Deer Park with Grammy and Paw Paw. My mom put together an over the top Easter basket for Connor. I wish I had a picture of it before Connor tore in to it. Mom puts a lot of effort in to the presentation of gifts and I love it. His basket was adorable and filled to the brim with sidewalk chalk, bubbles, books, Veggietales, and an ambulance and firetruck that both make noise (thanks, Mom!). He had a blast hunting for his eggs in their backyard and playing with his new bubble gun. Then while Parker napped, we took him to the park to play. It was fun for us to just do something with Connor and give him our undivided attention!

Hunting his eggs to put in his choo-choo basket!

He loved shooting Paw Paw with the bubble gun!

We had a blast with him at the park!

Parker was there, too! Parker Man...you'll get to run around with big brother and hunt eggs next year!

On Easter Sunday, we ended up at Urgent Care with Parker and missed church. This was heartbreaking for me, as this was my first Easter morning to not spend at church. There were tears. But, Parker was okay and that's all that matters. We had lunch with my family at Lupe Tortilla and then went to Tiki for a crawfish boil. Connor did his first crawfish races and went on a boat ride with Uncle Pete.

We had a great Easter weekend celebrating Jesus and celebrating our family. 

He is risen, indeed.

He's ONE!

Warning: Prepare for a Connor overload as I recap his birthday celebration(s)!.

I still cannot believe that our baby is a year old. The fastest year of my life, hands down. A few weeks before the big day, we had his one year photo shoot. My favorite part was the smash cake - he went to town on the cake. At one point, he even propped his foot up on the cake stand and continued eating. He LOVED the cake!

On his actual birthday, we had a small celebration at school with mini cupcakes (he devoured two) and balloons. (Side note - I am pretty sure balloons are his new favorite thing. He loves to say "boon" and hit the balloon over and over!). It was really sweet. His teacher Mogee (pictured below) decorated the classroom and had happy birthday music playing when we came in that morning. Cue the first round of tears.

On his birthday evening I had to work (BOO) so when I got home, he was asleep. I went and picked him up and snuggled him at his actual birth time - 9:43 PM and just cried and prayed over him. I rejoiced for the perfect miracle that he is. I thanked God for his sweet life. I prayed that He would grow to know Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior and seek to have a close relationship with Him. It was a sweet tradition that I plan to repeat as long as I can, though realizing one day I won't be able to physically hold him!

That weekend we had his official birthday party, which after months of planning, was a huge success. I'll post much more on that later!

My thoughts on the big ONE

I can't believe that in seven days, my baby will be turning a year old. Wasn't this photo just taken yesterday?

Connor Gibson Ford
November 4, 2012
10 lbs. 3 oz. (yes, you read that correctly)
21 3/4 inches long

For some reason, I'm a mix of emotions about this birthday. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled he will be one, and I can't even imagine the fun in store for us over the next twelve months. He will start walking, saying more words (hopefully momma is in that mix...throw me a bone here, Connor), and explore toddlerhood. He will continue to grow into the little guy that God created him to be.

But turning into a toddler means he's no longer my cuddly, newborn smelling baby. No more little coo's or fists curling up as he sneezes and then makes that adorable little ahh sound. Gone are the hours of tummy time, the days where he was obsessed with his feet and putting them in his mouth, and his excitement about naked baby time (where he would stand at the mirror in the bathroom before his bath and bang on the mirror and laugh and squeal at himself).

When he was 2-4 months old, he was happiest in the morning, and we called it happy time. We would lay him on our red ottoman and play and play with him. We would pull out all the stops to get a smile or a laugh! We also had fun on the ottoman when J would get home from work! He loves coming home to his happy boy. And now at 11 months, his happy boy waits for him at the back door and bangs on the door and squeals and laughs when he sees daddy pull in!

Writing this now, I guess I'm not entirely sad this year is over. There was that day when he was 5 weeks old that I nursed him ELEVEN times in one day. Yes, eleven.  And I don't really miss the 9 weeks of waking up in the middle of the night to feed him. I sure don't miss that pump...or the sound of it! I don't miss the absolute head to toe diaper blowouts this little man used to make. I don't even know how he was capable of messes that big! I don't miss toting that super heavy infant carrier everywhere. Or the spit up - yech! Or the teething...oh, wait, we are still going through that. His sixth tooth finally broke through this weekend!

So, here I am. A mom of an almost one year old. Sometimes I want to pinch myself because I still can't believe he is here with us and that he is our gift from God. He's growing up, and he is proof that life passes us by far too quickly. Have I stopped to really enjoy every moment with him? I don't want to forget anything, and I'm afraid that the mark of one year means that I'll start forgetting. I have a bad memory as it is, and with the lack of sleep in the last year that can't be a good mix.

Most of all, I am thankful for Connor. I am grateful that God knows our hearts so intricately and made him so perfectly for us. On a daily basis, Connor's life reminds me of our Father's grace, mercy, trust and provision for our lives. Each night before I go to bed, I go into his room and cover him up and rub his back and pray for him. Every night is a different prayer, depending on our day and what's going on in our lives. I pray that he will desire a close relationship with Christ. I pray that he will be a good friend to others. I pray that he will love his family. I pray that he will pursue God's calling for his life. And like our pastor said at his baptism, I pray all God's blessings on him all the days of his life.

Proverbs 22:6 is never far from my heart.
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Being a mommy has challenged me to be a better Christian. I guess you could say that even at eleven months old, Connor is making me a better person, and praise God for that.

Thank you God for the absolute honor of being Connor's mommy. Help me to cherish every moment of every day so that when I look back on these sweet years, my heart swells up with beautiful memories.

Now someone get me a Kleenex.
Brittney

Sincere Apologies...

Have I really resorted to only posting new blog entries twice a month? Seriously? That's a little embarrassing, if I do say so myself. I'm so sorry that I'm depriving all of you of the incredibly fascinating things going on in my mind and in my life....wait, never mind, nothing fascinating is actually going on. My bad.

In all seriousness, there have been a lot of things going on that have been so super heavy on my heart. I'm contemplating going back to school, so my life lately has comprised of studying and college visits. I'm not entirely sure I want to become a full-time student again. Not to sound lazy, but I'm not sure I'm up for going to school all day and then studying all night. When would I have any kind of life? I would have no balance at all. And when I don't have balance, I kind of lose it. I'm just praying that the Lord shows me the path He wants me to take and that I'm wise enough to listen to what He's saying.

I'll keep you all posted on my big decision...and by the way, I hate decisions.

XOXO-
Brittney

Am I Enough?

Lately, I've been reflecting on how its just not that easy to be a woman in today's world. I'm in a ladies bible study at church, and we are reading the book "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." The bottom line is I'm such a Martha, when all I really desire is to stop and sit at the feet of Jesus. (Luke 10:38-42).

As women today, we are beyond distracted with so many tasks, self-consuming thoughts, and just flat out struggles. I feel God telling me that I just need to stop and strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman - not a perfect woman of this world.

Does anyone ever feel these things?
- When will these extra 10 pounds go away? I've been working out like a maniac lately, eating more fruits and veggies, and my clothes aren't hanging off me like I want them to...
- I wish my house was cuter and allowed for us to entertain more; but the thought of having more areas to decorate is terrifying - what if I make mistakes, or worse, get the decorations in and settled, then realize I don't like it (like I've done with our bedding - its so dark and dreary - why didn't I shop around more?)
- Just when I think I've got enough clothes, something new and fabulous comes out that I've just got to have; probably because I still have those struggles of wanting to wear the next best thing; honestly, do I need more clothes? NO! (BTW - I feel the same way about purses and jewelry)
- Why did I get the short end of the stick on great hair? I can't decide if I like it short, long or medium - honestly, sometimes it sucks all three ways! Haircuts are so defining, yet, I can never seem to stay happy with one style
- Back to my body - ughhhh!!!!! Just to lose the impossible inches on my arms! And the love handles - come on, I do so many oblique exercises - what gives???
- And finally, am I doing enough? Do I clean or cook enough to be considered a great wife? Do I call and visit enough to be a great family member? Do I ask the right questions and listen enough to be the best friend I can be? Do I work hard enough at work to make sure I'm not going anywhere - do I do enough?

Lord, am I enough?

Proverbs 31:28-30

Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised

Praising the Lord today, for making me a woman wise enough to realize that the only set of standards that matter are those of Jesus.

Happy Easter!

For some reason I can't explain, Easter had a deeper meaning for me this year. I don't think its that I've experienced a significant spiritual maturity recently, but I think Jesus has definitely been more actively on my heart lately.

I think one reason for this was that Thursday night when I got home from the gym, Jeremy was watching the Passion of Christ. So, I watched it with him - it was only the second time I've seen it. It was such a deep reminder of the intense sacrifice that Jesus made for us and seeing all of it weighed so deeply on my heart throughout the weekend. I dug into the Book of John just to read more about what I'd just seen. It was a really moving experience for me to be so vividly reminded this weekend about the pain and suffering Jesus went through. All to Him I owe!

Easter is the most important time of year for Christians, and I hate that it gets overshadowed with bunnies, chocolate and eggs. Don't get me wrong, one of my favorite things I did this weekend was watch my precious nieces and nephew hunt their eggs! Even church is crazy on Easter. We are herded in and out of the shortened services to make room for the masses of people that attend on Easter Sunday. It's so crazy. Of all times of year, I want to be in church, soaking up a message about the ultimate sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, and all of the hope and validity that Easter means for Christians.

I hope all of you had meaningful Easter weekends!
Much love,
Britt