4 Months

Our little man is 4 months old!!! 

And getting cuter and cuter each day - if that's even possible!

Grayson has started to coo back and forth with us and it's the cutest thing EVER! He is really finding his voice and it's so fun to listen to him :)

Grayson hit a MAJOR growth spurt this month...

All he wanted to do, all day long, was nurse and sleep!! (Mostly nurse)

I am so grateful that he is growing but goodness it was quite a challenge on this momma!!!

Grayson has really started to come into his own little personality! He's pretty particular on how he likes things done... I really thought he was going to be pretty easy going but boy was I wrong... I guess between me and his daddy he was bound to be this way ;)

Just for an example... When Grayson is nursing and I have to switch him over to the second breast, he gets so mad at me! He throws his hands in the air, throws his head back, and cries!

 SO. MUCH. DRAMA. Lol!! 

Even through all his challenging moments, this boy is the joy of my life. He is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen and I still cannot believe that I get to be his mommy! I feel so blessed.

Another fun memory from this month is that when Grayson nurses and starts to fall asleep, I tickle under his cheek and he curls up and smiles... Oh gosh it's just the cutest thing ever :) There are so many fun memories that we make each day and I don't want to forget this sweet time with my boy. 

Grayson is still in newborn clothes... He is my perpetual newborn... Lol. Most days I am just thankful that I get to enjoy his tiny-ness for so long, while there are hard days and I just wish he were big enough to better communicate his needs, because sometimes I am just clueless. Right when I think I have him figured out, he changes and I am once again lost. Haha... 

Welcome to mommy hood I guess! 

I read a quote the other day that said

"You will suck at this parenting gig and be awesome at it all at the same time"

That has just about described my month!

And of course my post would not be complete without my favorite thing ever... 

his sweet baby toes! 

PS I LOVE FALL!!!

Who's in Control?

Recently I have been so challenged to be better at self control. So many times in this life I find myself being controlled by my flesh or by the things that are comfortable, that I end up becoming complacent and apathetic. There's nothing worse than being run by your flesh and not even caring. 

The way that Satan keeps me in this trap is so sneaky sometimes. Because he convinces me that I'm not doing anything wrong. But when I step back to look at things and pray, the Lord reveals to me how I am so driven by my flesh. When it becomes almost impossible to change my diet because I can't say no to my favorite foods: that's a problem. When I can't find the motivation to exercise because I don't feel like it: that's a problem. When I know that my attitude needs an adjustment but I don't work on it because it's difficult and uncomfortable: that's a problem. 

This is one of the main reasons I love running. It's a constant challenge to keep going, to push myself, to say no to everything in me that is screaming STOP! YOU CANT DO THIS!! But I push through, I keep going, not because it's comfortable but because I am reaching towards a goal. It's a great exercise not only for my body but for my mind and spirit. 

Running is about being actively challenged. And so many times we forget that as Christans, we too are being actively challenged on a moment by moment basis. Are we going to press on? Or give in to temptation? Will we give up the comfort of flesh to become more holy, more like Christ? I know I certainly want more of HIM and less of me. I don't want to be mastered by the pride of life and the temptations that are all around me. I want to be better. I need to be better. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Being a Mom :)

I never knew having a baby would be so fun! I absolutely love every part of being Grayson's mom. From the good times to the hard times, all of it is so wonderful. The good days fill my heart with joy and the hard days teach me how to be better for him. Looking back on some of the hardest days, I am so grateful because without them I would not have learned the lessons I needed as a new mom. I have learned more patience, love, and selflessness than I have ever known before. The Lord works on my heart every day through this little man :)

 Even changing his diaper is a blessing. I find myself having fun doing the simple things with him. :) he smiles and plays with me when I pull him over to change him. There's nothing better! 

His little feet are always one of my favorite things. :) someday I won't get to nibble on his little toes and I always want to remember the tiny-ness of my sweet boy :)

Most days we have a time where we lay on the floor and read. I can't even express how much I love reading with him. He looks at the pages and then back at me. He loves books and it's so precious!

This little boy :) I think when I dreamed of having a baby, I thought of it as something fun to do, something exciting, and just the obvious next step in life. Little did I know it would change everything. My whole life is different now. Priorities, responsibilities, activities, desires, opinions... So much has changed but I wouldn't trade this new life for anything in the world. 

Today we bundled up and ran errands together! Mundane tasks become so fun when I get to look down and see that sweet little face!!!
I never want to take these days for granted. From play time to reading books to his sweet smiles and changing his diaper. Every part of being his mommy is an amazing blessing and I am SO thankful for him! 

Family

I am so incredibly thankful for my family

Since the Lord has blessed our lives with Grayson, my perspective on life has changed a lot and I cannot express enough how very thankful I am to have a family of love surrounding my sweet son.

Family is such a gift. It is just one of the many ways that the Lord shows His love for us. He created us to live in unity, in community with others, and specifically with our family. He knew we needed each other. Through our families, He builds us up, tears us down and teaches us right from wrong, in a safe environment which allows us to grow and thrive. He points us toward Himself, and lavishes His love on us through our family. 

We are so blessed!