TEC.8

Tucker is growing and changing moment by moment. I just want to snatch each one up and hold on forever. I do take lots of pictures trying to capture the moment. Then I prefer to jump right into it after a few snaps. 


This past month has been full. Full of exciting things, challenging things, and things that bring me to tears. 


First off, Grey has been really sick this month with mono which was a tough time all around. Tucker joined in with a high fever for about 4 days as well. Luckily we got over that and I'm hoping things continue to look up from here on out. Though the days were challenging taking care of two sick boys, I did continue to thank God for mono being the only sickness that had entered their bodies. It could have been a lot worse. 


Upon our return home from our trip to Passion at the beginning of January,  apparently Tucker thought I abandoned him. He's always been a momma's boy but things got BAD when we got back. He was uncharacteristically, over-the-top momma's boy with a scream that woke the neighbors if I was out of his sight or not holding him. Talk about a challenge. Grey and I could only take so much. This is what happened when he anyone, other than me, tried to entertain him.

Thankfully he seems to be over that hurdle as well. Needless to say, very little got done around here for a few weeks.


Tucker is also getting used to having a few more bottles in his every day life. This is the "bring me to tears" part of the month. This is for reasons I will not go into here and now. It's been hard for me to accept. I do know this is best and has been proven true this week. Thankfully I am still able to nurse him mornings and evenings as of now. There's nothing like those precious moments. I hate letting go of them.


On to exciting...mobility brings excitement! 


Tucker has made a "playground" for himself under the table. He squeals and entertains himself for long amounts of time cruising around the chairs.

Proud? VERY! 

He is entertained mostly by Oscar, Grey, and loves a good wagon ride. 

I see A LOT of this these days...a little bootie in the face. Like I said, he's a busy boy exploring all kinds of new things. 

Like leaves.

and books.

and helping me with unload the dishwasher. (don't worry, i did take that knife away from him.) 

and eating LOTS of baby food. he keeps me busy whipping it up. he, unfortunately, snubs prepackaged food. (doesn't his hair look unusually red in this picture?)

he enjoys watching for daddy with a careful eye. 

oh that paci. i'm afraid it's going to stick around a while.

Tuck has started trying to wave. Unfortunately I haven't caught this "moment" yet. He is imitating sounds and giggling heartily. Hopefully he'll take after his daddy in that area. 

I wouldn't trade one single moment with this boy! Even the MOST challenging ones thus far. He brings me so much joy I cannot put it into words. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be his mommy. I will continue to try taking it all in as the moments pass ever so quickly.

I got our old computer up and running yesterday and was looking through some pictures. Here's grey bear at tuck's age. how do ya like that drool? i'm pretty sure he already had at least four teeth at this point and was probably working on a few more. He was also packing a little more "love" (chub) than tucker is. look at that sweet, round face!

And for comparison sake, here's my sweet tuck just the other day in the same onsie . blue eyes shining and all!

fresh air

this cool guy

and this cool guy was feeling better yesterday afternoon and today. thank goodness.

He and Tuck have had high fevers all week so we've been cooped up inside. I hate that it's been during a week of beautiful weather. (until today) Tucker has been sleeping A LOT. He was inside for a late afternoon nap so Grey and I enjoyed some time together outside, just he and I. It was much needed.


We enjoyed laughing and making faces at each other. We played soccer and golf. Grey got a hold of the camera for a few shots of Mommy before I thought about going to get his own camera. 

this is grey's "buffalo face." if you haven't seen it in person, you need to.

one of Grey's originals.

whew

I would really rather not relive last week. 

It started out with a trip to the doctor for Grey Bear because of EXTREMELY swollen tonsils covered in white spots. I was certainly surprised when the Strep test came back negative but the doctor was pretty certain Grey has mono. I thought "ok, we can handle this." Little did I know that Grey's tonsils were swollen into almost one big mass which was obstructing his breathing. We ended up in the ER that night where they took blood and gave him some steroids to help the swelling go down. He also had a swollen spleen along with swollen glands throughout his neck. Thank goodness mono isn't quite as contagious as I thought. If a fever is present it is contagious but they encourage you to go about your daily life if there is no fever. So that we have tried to do all the while being careful his spleen didn't rupture :)

Needless to say, we have been watching a lot of Curious George around here to keep him down. 

We did pull out the capes and swords when times got desperate but played very delicately. 

Tucker has been about his business crawling around, through coffee tables and...

peeking over coffee tables. what a cutie.

It was a big week for the student ministry with our annual "Pancakaganza" during exam week and Uprising (or Disciple Now if you're more familiar with that) this past weekend. This meant Matthew was scarce during the week. Thanks to Papa and Gigi, I was able to attend Friday night while they stayed here with the boys. 


thank goodness I got to experience this group of 11th grade girls!

and this group of 6th grade girls!

I am so grateful that I got to attend worship Friday night along with visiting homes. I love love love being alongside my husband in ministry. What a privilege it is!


Saturday night I took the boys up to hang out for a while and they loved it. I think they both have a crush on Haley.

Grey got to experience a little of the worship time with Matt Papa. He was mesmerized. 

Obviously the Uprising was great. There were students that put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and that's what the weekend was about. Students were challenged and are making steps in their relationships with Christ and were able to worship a God who saves and loves them. Wow.


I wouldn't mind reliving that part of last week! 


On to a new week. I pray that God will receive glory in each and every situation this week. 

This baby...

Oops, I mean this baby...

Has two sharp bottom teeth poking through! Oh what fun :)

our saturday

I have thoroughly enjoyed our saturday. it's all of those little moments throughout the day that just make me so thankful. I just happened to catch some of them.

tuck is watching something outside.

Grey Bear sees it too. Matthew was also staring wide eyed at the men cutting down two trees in our backyard. The boys were enamored. We are making room to expand our deck in the spring!

At some point THIS happened...

I have no idea.

Then after a potty trip, THIS happened.

Tuck was busy on his leapfrog table when he saw Grey's truck...

and cruised to it all by himself!

the battle begins.

Tucker was racing to pull up on anything he could find so we decided to pull out the little push toy, walker thingy.

he loved it!

and Grey loved flicking Tucker's ears. Good thing he doesn't care.

mealtime today was no different. 

mmm. avacodo and a little peas with your paci.

we ended the day watching Up.

It's the little things that just bring me so much joy. These two little boys (and one big man) were given to me and I praise God for each moment!