Logan's Head Wound and 5 months down!

This weekend marked a 5 month accomplishment for the deployment, and I guess time for something "traumatic" to happen. It was about 4 weeks before Mike got back from his LAST deployment when Austin broke his leg. So this time frame is our "2 days after he leaves and everything falls apart". Friday night the boys were playing in their costumes as usual, using some large body pillows on the ground to jump on and roll around on. I was starting to make dinner and also babysitting for a friend. Her almost 1 year old little girl was chowing down on her dinner. Then the hit happened. Not sure if it was a slip, jump, or tumble, but logan fell onto the side of the end table. He screamed and started running to me. My first thought was, "I need to love him but help him be tough when he gets hurt", then I saw blood and I was like "ok...he really hurt himself", and then I saw the OPEN wound and shouted "We Gotta GO!" . God was so good to us and another good friend came over right away, like the time between the phone call and her getting here seemed like seconds! She just took over Austin and Kaitlyn (my other friends little one) and Logan and I went to the ER.

We didn't have to wait too long, and were able to watch a movie on the tv to make the time go by faster. He was all settled down and wanting to go home when the docs came in to stitch him up. I was hoping just for some glue or something, but he ended up with three stitches. It doesn't seem bad and probably isn't, but for a 3 year old, it was the scariest thing. At first he was smiling (all the while he is still in his IronMan costume) while they put a pillow case on his arms to restrain him and laughed a bit when they rolled him in a sheet to hold him down further. As a RN I understand the need to restrain children as it is for their own safety, the doctors safety, and the only way you are going to get the sewing done! However, to be the mom makes things a little different. Well, they held him down, he screamed and cried and I just prayed. I didn't think they numbed him enough, but they said they did. I know he was just so scared. Of course after all the excitement they said that Dad should have come instead and I was like "Yeah...that would have been nice, but he is in IRAQ!!!!!".

His stitches will stay in for about 5 days and I am praying when they take them out he won't freak out as bad. I may have to bribe with a toy or something. Any one have any suggestions on how to help your child be calm during something like this?

If you look closely, you will see freckle like specks around his eyes, that is petechiae/bruising from screaming and crying so hard.

On the UP side...the next day marked 5 months done with the deployment. I have waited to take this picture since the beginning AND I can't wait till I can change the month to February tomorrow! We are less than a month till Dad comes home and my Sailor kisses me again.

Best Friends! (a picture NOT in their costumes!)

Multi-sticker countdown. I tried to have it season specific, but they enjoy picking out stickers.

Austin bo baustin

Musical Monday

Can you believe that I am actually on time with the Musical Monday? (maybe a bit early?) I guess our time is really getting close to being done and I am just so excited with each Monday that passes us now. Thank you Jesus that it is February this week!

When thinking about my hubby returning home and Valentine's Day coming up, I am smitten by thinking about the Love that I have. A Love that I have been blessed with, a Love I get to give, and a Love that grows. Each and every deployment and time apart teaches us different things. I have to be honest that this one has probably taught us the most about marriage and loving each other. I know that it will be hard to take Mike for granted ever again (something I never wanted to do anyways), that every touch and kiss will be savored, and all the moments together will be cherished.

This song, Brandon Heath's "Love Never Fails", I love because it speaks of a Love that a marriage bond should have, a love that has been shown to us through Jesus Christ. I sit and hear the lyrics and think about my loving husband. I also hear the name of God in place of the word Love. Remember this blog post. I know that the relationship between us and God is how a marriage should be. Be encouraged and uplifted with this song. I know I will be as my weeks turn into days and then days into hours and hours into minutes:-)

32 Weeks...boy or girl?

I found this pattern online and I tried my hardest to figure it out on my own. However, it was a bit tricky and I ended up buying the pattern for 4.00 and it is now my favorite! So here I made one little newborn girl hat and a little newborn boy hat. I think they are a little large, but it has been almost 2 years since I had my own newborn in my arms! We shall see I guess. So....which one do you think we will be using in 8 weeks or less?

Some more I came up with. The tan one is also going to be a newborn photo shoot prop and the purple flower hat with flower was sent to friends little girl (for whom I have been desperately trying to make a hat that fits! Hard to size them when they live so far away and are constantly growing!)
(credit for the designs/patterns go to Speckled Frog by speckledfrogcrochet www.speckledfrogcrochet.etsy.com )

Here I am 32.1 wks along! I can't believe that I have hit the 8 month mark, but I can tell you that my body is feeling every day of the 8 months now. I am so sore and have the pregnancy waddle down. It is even getting hard to lift my legs up! HA! You always seem to forget this part of the pregnancy right? The baby had some major hiccups the other night and just wouldn't quite no matter how I moved or pushed on the baby. Therefore, Logan got to feel the baby move so much! It was fun to let him feel it. He definitely has his heart set on the baby being a girl. I told him the names for the baby the other day and he ended up telling his teacher that "there is a baby in mommy's belly and her name is Grace". The teacher was surprised because she knew we weren't finding out....soooo dear Logan there may be a little sweetheart of a princess in mommy's belly or another super hero you will be wrestling with in a few years:-)

I get to have another US on Monday so pray that the gender isn't revealed. We are so close to the end that it would be tragic to find out now. Again, I have this crazy suspicion that the baby is turned funny. I know that we do have several more weeks to determine if it will be head down or not, but I have been getting so much pressure down there and so many kicks in that downward direction that I will be anxious to find out the position in a few days. Not too much longer!!!

ps. I will be sharing the story of Logan's stitches soon...trying to collect all the info and photos for it:-) He is a trooper though!

Going to be an AUNTIE!!!

This is old news to some, but I haven't been able to post the fun pictures we have to show off the announcement! Back in Dec I drove back to MN with my younger sister. She kept getting carsick and seriously slept the whole time (just kidding Jill...you did a TON of driving, thank you!) A few days after getting to MN she found out she was PREGNANT! YEAH! It is a God thing because they weren't exactly trying (ie on birth control). For me it is so fun to have my sister become a mommy because I know she is going to LOVE it and do such an amazing job at it. Plus now I have my sister/best friend who gets to go through the same things I do!

I had to keep it a secret though! THAT was hard. She wanted to tell our family on Christmas Morning which was over a week away when she told me. It was a fun surprise to tell, that family filled morning. We gathered everyone up for a 'family' picture and as I was taking the picture I was yelling out "Say Cheese everyone!" then I snuck in "Say Jillian's Pregnant!" and just as they reacted I was able to snap some photos (which are on her camera I believe). Perfect way to announce such a joyous thing.

Here is her first belly shot (probably around 5 weeks) She is now 11 wks and is due Mid August. They WILL be finding out the gender right around when my baby is due so that will be an exciting time!
Grandma getting to love the baby:-0 Third grandchild and Jillian and Josh's first!
Cousins! Getting our first belly picture together and possibly last before the babies come! Me almost 30wks and her 6 or 7 wks:-)

Why do they make these?!??!?

Doing my grocery shopping I stumbled upon these DELICIOUS treats...why oh why do they make such amazing candies?

hhhmmmmm....I only had the portioned amount which was 6 and not too many calories. They are pretty rich so it wasn't hard to hold off on them till tomorrow:-)
Yes, Logan did get his hands on a few:-)

"Living for His Legacy" and what this means to me

When thinking about a name for our family blog, there were many cute little sayings that I thought of, but none really stuck out to me. Was my blog going to be about photography? Being a Mom? My Boys? My Lord? So much to think about and write about. Therefore, I chose a name that encompassed it all.

"Living for His Legacy" to me means that above all in my life: being a wife, mom, friend, daughter, sister, etc; that I am going to live for the Lord. For the legacy that He left behind and commanded to us. What matters most to me in life is pleasing and giving Glory to God through my life as a wife, mother, friend, daughter, and sister.

Jesus' legacy: He has given us so many instructions and so much guidance on how to live this life just by how He lived and by the words spoken during his time on earth. How we should love God (Matthew: 22:37), love others (John 13: 12-17), forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35), have faith (Hebrews 11:1), be born again (John 3:3,16), have obedience (Matthew 16:24-26), deal with persecution (John 15:18-19, 26-27), anxiety/worries (Matthew 6:25-34), and who/what our foundation in life should be (Matthew 7:24-27). There are so many more areas in our lives that Jesus taught about how to deal with, but I feel that many of them revert back to these several topics.

The legacy I live for is to show God's glory in every day moments, conversations, and throughout all the seasons of my family's lives. The up-seasons, the down-seasons, the parenting-seasons, the marriage-seasons, the military-seasons, and the life lesson-seasons.

Some verses that my life constantly needs to hear lately:

Back in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 God said:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"

Psalm 145:8-9 "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."

Romans 8: 34 "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that- who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."

I could go on and on with so many verses, but that last part of that last verse...how humbling is that? That Jesus, the God of the Universe, is stepping in for us still at God's right hand. If I thought about that every moment of every day, how my days would be different!!! I think most of us women struggle with trying to be unique and stand out in some way. I know I have definitely in the past few years, seen that in my life. When wanting success by the worlds' standards, it means popularity, outward beauty that consumes (nothing is wrong with being beautiful), having money but not being satisfied, lusting after others, etc. I have realized that I don't have to have success in this world because God is good enough. He is MORE than good, and He is ALWAYS good.

Therefore, this blog, these posts I pray, will emulate the Lord's legacy in our lives as a family. That you will see me stumble, hold me accountable, help me up again, cry with me, laugh with me...a lot, and watch me grow as a woman of God. We all need to stop looking around (worry), looking back (sorry) and start looking up (faith)...

Musical Monday

I can't believe that I haven't done this song yet! As the weeks are winding down and we are getting closer to "walking up to each other" again, I am reminded of when I took that long stroll down the isle over 7 years ago. My heart skipped a beat with every footstep and I gazed at my handsome man in his Sailor uniform. I will get to again walk towards my handsome man seven years later in a different uniform with two kids in tow and one on the way:-) Our song that welcomed me down the church isle was different than most and I am not sure many people understood why we chose this particular song. At first my parents were hesitant and it was a small test in putting my husband first rather than "pleasing" others. Eventually my parents either warmed up to the idea or got tired of fighting me and my dad helped me put together Incubus' "Aqueous Transmission". We were able to cut out the words and enjoy just the beautiful music.

Probably a year to two years earlier when Mike introduced me to that song and we drove around town, star gazed, and dreamed about our future together; I thought how romantic it would be to walk down the isle to this song. So years before we actually got married, I already dreamed of what was to come one day:-)

Here you go my love, just sit and close your eyes and think about being in each other's arms again....

Pillow Months and boys:-)

Since October I have been sewing pillow cases for the boys (including Mike) that have the theme of the month. October/November : Pumpkins, December: Santa, January: Snow, February: Valentine! I also created a pillow-case for next month in honor of Austin's Birthday. When it is Logan's birthday he will use that pillow-case for his birthday month. Just thought it was a fun way to see the months go by and having something special for birthdays. I do have to admit that I am NOT a sewer and I screwed up several of the pillowcases I made (they are probably the easiest thing to make!). Nonetheless, I am trying to be a "fun" mom and creative mom for these little tykes of mine.

My equipment thanks to my mom:-) And the Birthday fabric I found. Unfortunately there weren't any boyish Happy Birthday fabric.
Next month's creations (one for Logan and a special one for Mike and then Austin's b-day one. Normally all the boys have the same fabric).

I have really enjoyed lately being a mom to these two boys. Being a boy mom can be pretty physically demanding as they just never seem to stop. Plus I have to pick up myself and be more energetic just to keep up with them! I am looking forward to Mike getting home (little over a month to month and a half!) so he can wrestle with them. For boys, wrestling is definitely a form of love. Just like cuddling, holding, combing hair, etc for girls. I guess you could say wrestling is a form of physical touch-love for them, and they are in desperate need! I try hard to wrestle, but this baby in me really doesn't like it and either do my muscles holding this belly up. I feel like explaining things to boys are different; from why God made things the way He did, to why Logan needs to eat his dinner. Giving them lots and lots of time to run around and get energy out is very important for them, to let them explore and "beat" things up, letting them be the hero and telling them they ARE a hero is essential. I have been reading a book called "Wild at Heart" which is geared towards adult men (no I am not trying to be a man, but trying to understand my husband more per his request:-) but it is also teaching me how to be a mom to boys. How to nourish their inner superhero as well as help them become men of God.

Here is Logan tearing up a styrofoam box in the garage

Soooo....when speaking about boys and thinking about what this 3rd little one may be, I have to admit that I am nervous if it is a girl. Not because I feel like a pro with boys, because I am not in any way, but because they are a whole different entity. With girls you need to nourish their femininity as well as confidence in ways that boys will never need. Giving them love and joy....just seems soo different right now! Now if we have a 3rd boy, then I feel like God is trying to impress on Mike and I a certain characteristic which we still need to learn or figure out. No matter what we have, our family will be complete and fulfilled:-)

Too Many Oreos?

I went to put on this t-shirt and noticed it was a bit small for me...hehe. This 30.4wk belly of mine is sticking out further and further. It feels so low yet I feel this baby so high AND low. The movements of this little one is so different than the boys, rolling and somersaults, and pushing, etc. It is fun, but I sooo wish Mike could feel it!

Maybe this shirt is too small because I have had too many of these:

HAHAHA! I just have to laugh at how strange yet how wonderful it is that my belly can stretch and fit a baby! Right now the babe is about 3 lbs and 14 inches. When I say that and know that next week I will be 8 months, it seems sooooo far along! However, I still feel like time is creeping by until the hubs comes home and until this little one joins us. I also think it is funny how I grabbed a handful of wrinkled and spit stained onsies tonight out of the baby clothes tub. I remember my first boy I had so many outfits picked out-folded-and put in the drawers, matching bedding and wall decorations, and even tried to match the baby gear! Now I am like...black and purple car seat...heck yes!!! (Thanks Molly!).

Musical Monday

I feel like I am running out of songs but I think it is just my memory being overloaded with so many tasks to get done lately. I just happened to stumble upon this one and it brought such a smile to my face. I know some of you will smile with me and most will roll your eyes. Not sure if there are many Jessica Simpson fans out there, but her song back in 2003 "With You" was a fun one for me while we were engaged. As I listen to it today I realize how much more true the lyrics are! I don't think that I ever felt the Love that I have for Mike and I am very grateful for that. Because I haven't felt that before I was blown away with how wonderful and great it was. I mean, to not have to worry that this person is going to wake up someday and NOT love me...that was and is never a thought that crosses my mind!

As this song shows a love that can let a woman be herself completely, no matter what if she is dolled up or just in her pjs, no matter if she says the smartest things or goofs up (yes I have been known to say things that just don't make sense), and no matter who is around the love radiates and shines through me. Now I just can't wait for him to get home. Even from around the world I still feel beautiful and like a queen, the Lord has blessed me with an incredible man. He has loved me in every way that I ever desired (you know like he put his hands around my waist in 12th grade and just made my insides melt:-). Anyways, I could gush over him all day long, I just can't wait to smile that huge smile with him right beside me!
Above: Our Thanksgiving in 2007...first as a family of 3!

Below: Our first homecoming when Mike was still a Seabee...just getting excited to have the homecoming again:-)

New Design.....THANK YOU!

AAAHHH! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this new blog design! Several months back I tried to change the font for the titles of the Posts and it took me hours to figure it out and then hours to get it to work, and then it disappeared somehow later on. Anyways, I don't feel that I am very tech savvy in this way so when I saw one of my favorite Blog Authors was going to offer her services to design blogs, I totally jumped on the idea! Thanks to Jhen at "From Here to Eternity" I now have a beautiful blog that fits me so well!

I have been following her for several months now and have been able to see her little girl (boys watch out because she is a gorgeous little gal!) grow up, enjoy her photography and get hints as to do my own photography better, and also get to know her better as a woman. Even though we have never spoke and I believe live on opposite coasts, I love the blog-life where we can gain strength and knowledge from those all around us. So please check out her blog! Did I mention SHE did all the hard work?!?!?!

Also, here is a photo that describes my life these days. I turn around from doing a simple 5 second task and this is what I see:

New Blog Name!!

Yes, you are in the right place, this is still the Morris Family. We are just renovating around here changing up a few things. I have my new blog name and will be getting a new blog design shortly! Please stay tuned for more updates and more fun:-)

(my new blog name will only be "Living for His Legacy" in a few days...right now I kept Morris Family there so you would know where you are!)

"Having a hard time..."

So Logan wanted to talk to Daddy on the computer like I do...with it resting on his lap. So we set him up and the first thing he said was

"I'm having a hard time Dad" in the most serious and sad voice

"I'm having a hard time in Ms Jessicas class, I just wanted mommy" I immediately turn my head and I am like...what??

(pause from Logan)

"Maddelyn likes me Dad"...oh my good ness, could this really be coming out of my almost 4 year old?

Well, the conversation went on and really didn't make sense, but that beginning...so hilarious:-)

Tuesday Tunes...sooo late!

Yikes! What a bad wife I am! Didn't do Musical Monday and now I am doing this really late on Tuesday...oh boy! Well, this Tuesday Tunes is going to be dedicated to the Super Hero that my Husband is and the super heros that live here at home. Mike is good at helping our little guys' imaginations along even with song. Before Mike left he downloaded a few songs from the Ironman soundtrack and the Transformers Movie. This play list is labeled "Action Hero" on my iPod and is frequently played in the car. Actually quite good driving music. So this Ironman song is for the hero that Daddy is and what he is teaching our kids. Not to be power/money/ girl hungry like the heros that are portrayed on TV and in the movies, but to be men that want to "fight the bad" and do good no matter what people think or say. Mike works so hard (even though Iraq has settled down some on bombs) at his job and jobs that he wasn't even trained for, he truly works as though he was working for the Lord. That can be tough because when credit isn't given for the effort done it can be frustrating and hard to work the next time. I am not trying to be selfish, but I love how hard he works and would love for someone other than me of course, to say well done! We both know that the only "well done" that matters is when we stand before the Creator, the One who gave us our talents and ability to do what we do.

There are many hero characteristics that Mike is instilling in our boys and they are all lessons learned in his life that he can pass on. It is just so fun to see the little men playing super hero and I can't wait for Mike to be able to join in or just watch from a distance and see their hearts and minds grow. So speaking of super heros, yes my boys wear their hero outfits almost every day. Some days they have to be in the "shop" so they can be fixed and worked on so they work better for the next day (mostly so I can just have my boys look like normal people in regular clothes:-) From Ironman, to Bumblebee, to Woody and Buzz...they are pretending all day long. I even brought the costumes to MN...so here are the photos!

Home Sweet Home

We made it! I think it was another record breaking (time-wise) trip with my Dad. The boys did great except for the usual moments or hour of whining, but I am very proud of their traveling skills. They are getting to be pros at long distance car traveling! We have also mastered the quick stops and choosing foods that are easy for them to snack on without creating huge messes. I think they enjoyed the hotel stops as much as the beds enjoyed being jumped on. Austin is such a sneaker-kid that we almost lost him once or twice! He knows how to open the hotel doors and hide in the closets. The hiding was pretty entertaining, but not finding him in the hallway of the hotel:-(

Our house is doing well, just heating itself up and getting used to all the toys unloaded from the boys. It will be a mess for a few days and I have to be ok with that. I was kinda dreading coming home because I am going to be by myself again and the month of Jan can be very long! Especially when waiting for a certain loved one to come home. But now that I am here and I see all the projects I get to do in order to "nest" for the hubby to come home and the new baby I am thinking January and Feb aren't long enough! HA! Unfortunately, I think most of the flowers in our garden are dead after the snow and cold temperatures VA has had, but we will learn for next year right? Excited to have the garden this year in the spring so we can enjoy it all spring and summer. Here are a few pictures for your entertainment:

ps: there might be a blog makeover coming up so stayed tuned for some updates to the layout and design! So excited!

Here is Austin popping out of the closet at the hotel and laughing while making these strange hand signals...so cute:-) Then he got his fingers stuck in the door and was done.

Here we start the unpacking...actually that is what I should be doing instead of blogging, but I needed a break.

Logan eating a much needed snack from our bare pantry (hence the boring soda crackers) while I see the mess of toys behind him. I better start organizing! (and yes he is in his Bumblebee Transformer costume. I didn't realize how much boys like to dress up too!)