Showin' Owen: 7 Months Old

Once again it is that time.  My sweet baby boy just wont stop growing.  Children are funny that way haha.  7 months have gone by and have truly been some of the very best.  Sadly this week we have our first ear infection ever to deal with, but Owen is such a trooper, still smiling through it all.

Here are some things he is doing at 7 months:

1. He is much more alert and plays really well with toys and things.  Reid was never really a big "toy" kid, he loved balls, but this one likes just about anything.

2.  We still have NO TEETH!  I keep waiting on them to come in and nothing has shown up!  I'm ready to get this show on the road!

 3.  He can sit up really well on his own, no more "oh no!" falling backwards accidents.

4.  He is starting to rock back and forth to get ready to crawl.  I don't want him to crawl because then I know it is on and I will be going two different directions!

5.  He eats more table food than Reid ever did!  Whatever we are having I try to give him a bite of it somehow.  He likes most everything we give him so far.

We are loving his cloth diapers!

6. He can find his paci and put it in his mouth, sadly we are going to be trying to take that away pretty soonish.  Reid let his go around 9 months!

 7.  He is still nursing, but has FINALLY moved to the 4 hour mark!  Hallelujah!  We usually nurse, then eat cereal, the when up from our morning nap nurse again and eat a little something for lunch.  Then we sleep and wake up from our afternoon nap and nurse, eat something around dinner, and possibly go back down for a short evening nap.  We also nurse right before bed:)

8.  His cousin, born 3 weeks before him, just said "Dada" for the first time (and it was oh so cute!!!) so you better believe I have been working on both "Mama" and "Dada"

 9.  He really is just the happiest little guy.  He loves to be held and enjoys being outside the most.

10.  He weighs 17.15 and was in the 61% for height when we went for his last check up. All in all a very healthy boy.

He is playing on a quilt from my great grandmother!

Sitting up tall!!!  

Never Once

This past Sunday Mark was talking to me and said, "Have you ever heard the song 'Never Once'? I think it really describes this past year for us."  I immediately went to spotify to see if I could find it and play it, because I had asked him a while back if there was a particular song we could put our stamp on as the "2012-2013 Year".  He said he didn't really know of any and I only had one or two that kind of did.  I forgot about it until that very moment and when I heard this song, I knew he was absolutely right.  It's as if Matt Redman took my year and wrote a song about it.  I have been playing it non stop since and worshiping the Lord who never once left us.  Here are the lyrics :

Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone

Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we’ll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful

I just want to break down this entire song and show how perfectly it fits this entire year.  Mark and I have finally reached the "mountain top" of getting him through a year of school and me through a year of work.  And looking back I can see the hand of God with us the entire process from the fact I even had a job, to helping us through financially when on paper there was NO WAY we should have, to Mark breaking his collar bone at the ONLY TIME he could have broken it and not missed clinicals and been able to hold Owen, those are just a few examples of many more I could recount with you.  Now "kneeling on this battleground" of our home and picking up our lives again we can look confidently and say the victory was His and His alone.  

My favorite part of this entire song is the bridge that says "Scars and struggles on the way, but with joy our hearts can say 'Never once did we ever walk alone.'" This totally personifies this year.  It wasn't easy, in fact it was the hardest thing I have ever done.  I cannot tell you how many times after dropping off a screaming crying child at daycare and walking away crying myself did I beg and pray for a different way, a way out.  How I pleaded with God to help me understand why this was the path we had to follow.  How I doubted His love and His sovereignty after Mark broke his collar bone, all to get really no answer (I felt) in reply.  This was just something we had to do, and it hurt.  There were scars physically and emotionally and boy were there struggles, even inward personal ones all along the way, however there's the refrain. "But with joy our hearts can say."  It is with joy now I can proclaim God's goodness, His faithfulness, His love for His children.  I can knowingly cry out that "Never once did we ever walk alone!"  He didn't leave us to ourselves, He was there in the midst of every tear, doubt, and prayer seeing us through it all.  He is ever faithful, and my faith is stronger now because of it. 

My eyes are opened now to others who may be going through a rough year themselves.  Maybe everything looks ok on the outside, but silently they are wondering how in the world the bills are going to get paid when they are $50 in the hole every month.  Perhaps some teacher with young kids just needs you to bring her a meal because she is so tired when she gets home.  Perhaps a family could use a gift card out to eat so they can go on a date.  Maybe they just need prayer and encouragement that God is in control.  I don't know, but I am now more aware.  I am thankful for this year, this time of struggle, because I know I have grown.  I would never want to go through it again, but I can be singing the praise of He is faithful.  Below are links to the music video and the video explaining the inspiration for the song.  I hope you'll take the time to check them out and allow this song to bless you as it has me.  

Music video 

Story 

Lately

So much has happened since summer began the 2nd week in June that I don't even really know how to begin.  I have so enjoyed this time with my littles, eating up everything they are doing that is new!  Here are a few pictures from my phone of the past few months.

Matching hats and just super cute!

Possibly my favorite picture of us

Making homemade pizza (and eating the cheese)

Mark after graduating from BPCC!  How we are so happy this day has come!

Big boy swimming with no floaties!  

Loving all the imaginative play going on!

This little love is just happy to be here and getting so big.

"Wook Mommy, brown leaves!"

After bath pictures are the best.

Big blue eyes!

Using Pawpaw's snorkel at the lake

Love him and treasuring every moment of his little life.

The biggest news of course is Mark has finally graduated!  We have done the happy dance around our house quite a few times.  He also had his first day (and week!) of paid work since last July this past week!  It has been so amazing how God has sustained us through one of the toughest times emotionally, physically (Mark and his collar bone, me having Owen), and financially.  I am so thankful we are finally on this side of everything.  

The boys are also growing up so much.  Owen will be 7 months old on Sunday!!!  Seriously, my baby is not a baby anymore.  He is about to become mobil and I know it is all downhill after that.  I love how interactive he is, playing with all the toys we (mainly Reid) gives him.  Reid is such a good big brother to him, telling him "Don't worry brother, I'm here" and "Watch this Owen, look at me."  Seriously I love their little relationship and pray I can continue to foster it.  

Back to Civilization

Ok for the 3rd time in our married life, the Cliftons AGAIN have their own internet.  We are so excited (well mainly me) to be connected again.  Seriously I spent all nap time today (so sue me, won't happen again) just purusing the gloriousness that is everything toddler school, decorating, and anything else you can think of.  I have had the best time, and didn't really notice how much I had leaned on the internet for my encouragement, especially in mothering.

Today was a little harder with Reid.  It was the first time Mark had gone back to work since graduating on the last day of July, so our routine went back to normal after being out of whack for a little bit.  I am embarrassed to say I could have handled some situations better than I did.  After a particular instance I was able to get him down for a nap and then went automatically to the Duggar family website (seriously I love them) and was so encouraged to just continue on striving to be the mom God has called me to be.  Michelle Duggar didn't get to be the mom she is or have the personality she does just by coincidence, she practiced, and purposed to do those things to better herself.  I look forward to learning more and attempting to not rise to anger when my toddler refuses to listen, or says no (for the 14th time that day).

There are so many things I want to do, that I feel are calling my name.  I want to memorize more scripture, I want to decorate, I want to get ready for fall, I want to start preschool (kinda) with Reid, I want to do sensory activities with Owen, I want to purge and downsize, and get rid of so much junk, all at the same time that I want to sit on my hiney and stare at this screen.  I realize just how lazy and selfish I am sometimes and actually pray each day that I would be productive the next and desire to accomplish things for my family, instead of just for me.  Sometimes it is hard when your toddler is adjusting and just wants to play with you all day (detoxing from having daddy for all his entertainment needs for a solid week and a half), or your 7 month old is teething, but I know these are the best years, the ones I will so want back one day, so for now I press onward.