Happy Birthday Micah!

Playing golf this weekend.  My big, handsome four-year-old!  
Celebrating with flan as a new three-year-old!
Playing at the park as a new two-year-old!
"Touchdown!" at 18 months.
So many presents, so little time at your first birthday party.  
Unwrapping all the presents under your first Christmas tree at six months.
Playing with Dada at three months. 
Sleeping soundly at a week old.  You slept all the time until 3 weeks.  Then you decided you might not want to ever sleep again.  Boy have we had a time training you to rest.  

My beautiful baby boy.  This was the day we brought you home from the hospital.  You were gorgeous and absolutely perfect.  You had such a pensive expression and we knew from the start you would be a thinker.  Oh for one more chance to hold you like this!  

Micah, we can't believe this day is here.  You were so excited to turn four.  I don't think you have slept much these past few days.  You were a little shy to come into my room this morning, but your face lit up after a big hug and a round of "Happy Birthday."  You couldn't wait to see what life was like as a four year old.  You were convinced that you could take bigger bites of your cereal.  I think you beat your record by one fruit loop!  We weighed you on the scale and did the math to see how much bigger you are today than the day you were born-  4.28 times as big!  We had a fun morning of playing Chutes and Ladders and then playing on the new slip and slide from Uncle Andy and Aunt Jessica.  We celebrated for dinner by going to eat Mexican-your all time favorite.  After gymnastics, we came home to open your birthday presents.  You were so excited to see the new (gently used) set of golf clubs that Dada picked out especially for you.  You said: "I did not know about these!  These are an awesome birthday present.  These are my very own golf clubs!"  After several shots in the backyard and promises to visit the golf course again soon, we coaxed you inside for a bath, some milk, and a few more gifts.  You got some new books, new shoes, and UNO.  You were very excited about a new game to play.  

Micah, we cannot express how proud we are of you.  We love you immensely.   You are so tenacious-you stop at nothing until you figure things out.  You can be so tenderhearted.  You love your brother to pieces and are always checking up on him.  You will often ask him to play with you, and you always want to be sure that he will be coming wherever we go.  This morning you said "I hear Owen, let's go get him up!"  I love your new interests.  You always pick a couple and really go with them.  Right now you are focused on golf and skipping rocks.  You told us yesterday that you wanted to be like Tiger Woods!  You have big goals and big dreams.  We are praying that the Lord will continue to grow you into a healthy boy who loves and trusts Him. We are praying that God will make you a leader that strives to bring glory to Him alone.  We are praying for you as a big brother, that you will help guide your siblings in a way that pleases the Lord.  We love you so much, Bubs and we are so happy you are four! 

A Recipe for You

We had the Myers over for dinner last night and I made this.  It is one of Matt's favorite dishes, but I thought I should write a little post about it so A. you can try it too. and B. so I could fill you in on some changes that I think really "kick it up a notch."  First, use any pasta you like.  I usually use mini penne or last night gemelli.  Second, I like to use sweet Italian turkey sausage.  The flavorings in the sausage really add a lot.  I also tend to double or triple the chicken broth and flour parts because it can be a bit dry otherwise.  I add a healthy pinch of herbs de provence to the vegetables.  I also use chicken stock instead of broth (kitchen basics makes a good one.) I also add more feta than called for.  It is a cooking light recipe, so I know they are trying to save fat, sodium etc.  So, just do whatever is best for your family.  I hope you get a chance to try it. It really is yummy!  

Birthday plans update:  Micah has been asking to play "real golf."  We got a 10:30 tee time for Saturday morning at The Little Course in Franklin.  It is a par three course that is supposedly great for juniors.  We are really excited about taking him.  I told him we might get a sitter for Owen, so we could just have a date with him by ourselves, and he instantly got sad and said "I want it to be Mama, Dada, Micah, AND Owen.  You got it buddy, Owen it is .  This melted my heart.  Owen truly is Micah's best bud.  We are going to gather with the family for a little pool party on Sunday evening, and I am going to make a chocolate cake with whipped mocha chocolate ganache frosting to go along with our pizza.   I am hoping it turns out okay because I am not sure I will be able to fit in a trial run!  

A Newsy Post

I figured I better get around to posting the big news in the Morrison house: I am pregnant! I think I have told most of you, but please don't be sad if you are finding out via blog. I really am having a rough time keeping my head on straight these days ;) I am a little over 7 weeks along and my approximate due date is Jan. 16th. I feel like I have been on a roller coaster the past few weeks. Hormones are crazy things. I am forgetful, antsy, sleepless and so tired at the same time, overwhelmed etc. Just to clarify, I am not yet feeling too overwhelmed about having a new baby, more just about getting daily chores done. I am tired and want to rest and things are backing up- I hate when things back up! I am emotional. I feel myself getting my feelings hurt for little to no reason, and getting a sudden urge to cry-sometimes about nothing, sometimes about something. Micah's birthday is coming up next week, and I still haven't decided what we are doing exactly. I had to order a bridesmaid dress for a wedding I will be in October. I had to make decisions based on a lot of unknowns-um like how big am I going to be. "Who knows!" is what I wanted to tell people, "but probably huge." I don't like making decisions anyway, but especially not when I have absolutely no idea what things will be like in October, or what dress will look good on a women entering her third trimester with her third child. I felt like today might be a good day for some blogging therapy. I have also been doing some inner housecleaning-taking inventory on some things, sorting through some thoughts and feelings I have been having. It is always hard to do this-taking stock of how am I glorifying the Lord with my life, do my actions even support this faith that I claim, how can I lose my patience so quickly with two boys that I love so deeply, where do these doubts, fears, and behaviors come from, why am I trying to put faith in my own faith and actions instead of resting in God's grace, and why is my faith so unpredictable? Some days things make so much sense, and other days I feel like I just have this head knowledge but don't know what to do with it. Does this make any sense? Do you ever feel this way? I was introducing Micah to a song on Saturday. I was sorting through a stack of CD's and found an old one by Caedmon's Call. I love the song Shifting Sand and played it for him. I realized, this is what I have been feeling the past couple of weeks. It reminded me that even though my faith is changed by every wave, the Lord and His grace have been there all the time. Here are the lyrics, and it really is a great song, you should consider downloading it!

Sometimes I believe all the lies

So I can do the things I should despise

And every day I am swayed

By whatever is on my mind

I hear it all depends on my faith

So I'm feeling precarious

The only problem I have with these mysteries

Is they're so mysterious

And like a consumer I've been thinking

If I could just get a bit more

More than my 15 minutes of faith,

Then I'd be secure

(Chorus)

My faith is like shifting sand

Changed by every wave

My faith is like shifting sand

So I stand on grace

I've begged you for some proof

For my Thomas eyes to see

A slithering staff, a leprous hand

And lions resting lazily

A glimpse of your back-side glory

And this soaked altar going ablaze

But you know I've seen so much

I explained it away

Waters rose as my doubts reigned

My sand-castle faith, it slipped away

Found myself standing on your grace

It'd been there all the time

Hopefully, I will be back soon with some fun birthday ideas for, did you miss it earlier, my almost four year old. Can you believe it? I know there are some of you who have been following us from the beginning. Can he really be 4? Talk about something to make a hormonal woman emotional. I am sure I will be taking some photo trips down memory lane this week for your viewing pleasure.

Memorial Day Weekend

We decide to spend the holiday weekend at our home away from home, the Browns in Atlanta. Despite the rainy weather, we managed to play outside quite a bit.  The boys loved the new parks and pool, and just being with great friends.  Seriously, Micah said at least 10 times: "I love this park and this slide and this ladder.  I love this pool at Nathan's house!" and my favorite: "Can we live here forever?"  We mostly relaxed and caught up.  We ate wonderful food as always.  Taylor is a fantastic cook!  We even visited a new Mexican restaurant that served not one, but three dips upon arrival.  That's my kind of place!  Here are a few pictures from the weekend, which are mostly just of the boys.  What can I say, I am a little partial.  

This one and the next few are actually from a family Memorial Day party celebrating Matt's grandma's 90th birthday along with his sister's graduation from UVA.  Micah went into the pool with his second cousin.  He was a little scared, but we were proud of him for being so brave in letting her take him around the whole pool. 
"Huge airplane in the sky!  Another one! Huge one!"
This one cracks me up.  He is posing like such a sweet boy.  He did this totally on his own when I said "smile!"  
Looking at the goldfish in the pond.  This entertained Owen for at least 30 minutes.  
Favorite activity: scooping with the "bulldudududu" and dumping it in the dump truck.  He does this off and on all day.  
My boys hanging out in the freezing cold pool in Atlanta.  I wish I had a photo of Dylan jumping in the cold water.  She was putting the boys to shame.  
Big hug for Aunt Taylor after a hand picked bouquet of dandelions.  He was a little smitten after this.  
Drawing numbers with the chalk.  
Flower for Mama!  Can you see his adorable dimple in his left cheek near his smile line.  I love this, and it seems to be getting more prominent.  What a sweet, unique feature.  
Micah' new favorite activity: golf.  He plays off and on all day.  We have a set of mini clubs inside and out.  He will make up a course with 18 holes and pick a par for the course.  He is getting pretty good, at least he can beat me!  
Sweet hug from Dylan after picking a flower for her.  These guys were really cute together.  There was really none of the expected two year old tantrums over toys.  Dylan graciously let Owen take over her "Lightning McQueen" bus.  She knew just how to win him over!

A fire truck came to visit the neighborhood.  After a few minutes of shyness, Owen finally let Matt put him in the driver's side.  
Owen was not cooperating, but since there are hardly ever pictures of me with the boys, I thought I would post it anyway.  
Very shy about the BIG fire truck.  

Visit With Friends

Last week our some of our best friends, the Comptons, came to stay with us for a few days.  It was so much fun to see them.  I think we all stayed up a tad too late, but it was well worth the catching up.  I hardly had my camera out, but I did manage to get some pictures of their daughter, Campbell, playing in the rain after the pool trip got cancelled by lightening and of the boys teaching Campbell how to hang from the bars of our canopy bed while listening to music that is a bit too loud.  I am sure Katie loved that!  Comptons, we miss you guys.  I promise we won't let multiple months go by without a visit again.  

40 Days of Prayer

 I was reading, this morning, last weekend's article from Table Talk by a former pastor of ours, John Sartelle.  He was speaking of how he was convinced a few years ago that his priorities in prayer were off.  That he was mostly always praying first for himself and his family, etc.  I thought, yeah I am doing good if I am still focused enough to pray anymore after I get through the laundry list of our family's needs and wants.  He ended with the charge for us to pray for the vision, advancement, and growth of the kingdom of God. He quoted a verse from 1 Timothy 2:1-2 "first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." 

Coincidentally, I saw this on Dr. Grant's (our current pastor) blog today.  I urge you to also make it a priority to pray for our Congress this week.  Visit this site for specifics.  

Catching Up

Well, I had this originally done two days ago, and I can't seem to get the cute video to upload of the performance.  I can't stall any longer because I really want to post some other things and I am a little OCD about keeping events in as much order as possible on this thing.  You will just have to trust me that it was great seeing my little guy sing his heart out to big truths such as "In the covenant of life, what did God require one to do?  To obey God perfectly.  Did Adam keep the covenant of life?  No, he sinned against God."  There were much more including Adam representing all of us when he sinned, and how we all need Jesus to be saved.  Pretty amazing stuff!  

Wow!  I need to catch up big time on the blog.  It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and I am trying to maintain some order (a very real need for me).  So, blogging has been put on the back burner for a while.  I am hoping to catch up this week though so stay tuned.  First I wanted to post some cute pictures of the boys working puzzles together.  They love doing this, but I do have to be sitting right there to referee.  Micah will often grab a piece from Owen because he knows where it goes, and nothing makes Owen more sad than to have something grabbed out of his hands.  It is a great way to teach them to communicate with each other rather than just take things.  Yes, they are wearing Halloween pj's given to them by the Browns.  Lately, they love to wear matching pj's, and since Owen's are mostly hand-me-downs, they only have a select few that actually match.  

This photo is from Micah's end of the year school program.  They sang all the catechism questions that they have learned to music.  Micah was a little stunned being on stage, but he did really well singing.  What a blessing that he has learned so much great theology this year.  It is so impressive to me that his preschool teaches these children great truths that many might think too complex for a three year old.  

Sending you to a Friend

I know it has been a week since I posted.  I am not much in the blogging mood these days-more on that at a later time (just to keep you coming back!)  I am twittering now (see right hand side of blog), so you can see some updates there if you like.  Today I will send you to a friend.  Taylor, who is a very talented artist, has started a nap time project.  She is designing t-shirts, etc. and printing them on various items.  If you need a personalized T for your little one. or bag, dress, etc.  you should check her new blog out.  My boys each have two shirts and they are adorable!  

Way Back Whensday-Water, Water Everywhere

I just couldn't bring myself to dig through the old photos to find pool/beach pictures from when I was younger.  I am not even sure that I have any here at our house.  I decided to just go way back 3 years to our beach trips with Micah.  We took him a total of three times.  Owen, sadly, has only been in utero.  We are itching to go back and trying our darndest to make it work this summer.  Alas, Raechel said we could improvise so here are some pretty cute pictures of Micah at the beach!  Do you guys have any beach shots you want to relive?  It really is fun to take a trip down memory lane, you should try it.  

Here is Micah building "ta towers" with Dada.  This was a most memorable trip.  We went with our friends, the Costellos on Drew and Matt's spring break 2007.  We had just come out of Matt's hardest rotation of working 12 hour days at the VA hospital, and I was 34 weeks pregnant (and exhausted).  Micah had had a really rough winter of ear infections and colds, so spending non-stop time with Dada in the fresh air of Gulf Shores was a real treat!   He had a blast swimming in the "hot tub, poo" and trying lots of new foods.  He even ate some oysters with us!  



This next set of pictures is from our family trip to Hawaii in the summer of 2006 for my brother's wedding.  I included one shot of them sending off the white doves after the ceremony. It felt like we were in a movie!  

Loving the fresh pineapple at the Luau rehearsal dinner.  What a great way to cool off!

The top two are from our trip on the Road to Hana.  We rented a Jeep and spent the day looking at breathtaking sites and exploring.  This is a must do if you are ever in Maui.  

Walking with Nana on the beach.  He was just getting the hang of it.
Pa buried him in the sand. 
The next few are from Matt's spring break 2006.  Micah had a blast playing in the sand and pool, and getting lots of attention from Dada of course.  
This was Micah's favorite trick.  He started doing this when he was 3 months old, and it got a smile every time.  



He was mesmerized when we first arrived at the beach.  We had to take him out to see the ocean, even though it was close to bed time.  This was all we could get out of him.  He put on his "thinking face" and was trying to figure it all out.  Look at those cheeks!

Thanks Hershael

So as I ponder whether to send Micah (given his history this winter) to school with the news and fear of swine flu, I come across this commentary.  He states many of the thoughts that Matt and I share, but it sure felt good to have someone confirm them.  Thanks Hershael York, whoever you are.  

Micah's Performance

So I would call the morning a success.  Micah said his Bible verse today without seeming the least bit nervous.  He was especially impressed with the sound of his voice booming across the sanctuary.  I could tell they hadn't done a rehearsal with the microphone!  He could hardly focus on the poem because he wanted to speak into the microphone again.  He finally was content to just crane his neck toward the mic and finish up the poem.  He informed me today that maybe when he is five he will be able to reach his mouth to the microphone.  

The Bible verse is: Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

The poem is:  Jesus Loves the Children

Dear Dear Jesus, the mother's softly pled.

Bless our little children lay your hand upon their heads.

Jesus told his helpers, let the children come to me.

He gathered them around him and blessed them tenderly.