Spring Break 2011

I love spring break...especially when your husband is a public school teacher! It was so nice to have a week off in the middle of a very crazy spring with a third one on the way, potty training Grace (more to come on that progress), weaning Elijah, and supporting my husband through coaching three spring sports (tennis, track and golf). It was a much needed break for all of us! We were able to spend some time with Cliff's family in Marble Falls and see some of mine in Austin. Thank you family so very much for taking care of us, babysitting so Cliff and I could have some time together, feeding us and loving on us all! Here are a few pictures...wish we would have taken more...

Trip to the Exotic Zoo. So much fun!

Feeding a Buffalo!

Feeding an ostrich. This was a little scary.

Playing the the Llano River

In addition to the activities above we rode around in Mimi's golf cart, Cliff and I went canoeing and bike riding, ate amazing Thai food, watched Lady and the Tramp, went on long walks, drove around and looked at bluebonnets, watched and played basketball, went to the park, saw relatives, took naps and relaxed. Grace is still talking about our trip like it was yesterday telling everyone about the grandparents she was able to see. I think that was her favorite part on ours too :)

Expecting our third, spread the word!

We are expecting another little Holdridge! Hooray! Hooray! Our third little pumpkin will be arriving September 28 which puts me at about 13 weeks and a few days. I almost posted a picture I took of our sonogram but it didn't turn out well, so hopefully I will get a clearer picture next time we do a sonogram (around 20 weeks). I saw him/her a few weeks ago and everything looks great. Their profile is similar to Grace, so we will see in a few weeks which gender gets outnumbered in our family :) That will also put Elijah 17 months older than #3.

I asked one mom who had three babies back to back what she did when they were babies (in other words how did she survive), and she told me, very calmly, "I don't remember a thing..." I just had to laugh. I can't imagine how crazy it will be in the beginning, but another friend of mine said something very wise today who is thinking about having her fourth..."we can't think only short term when we are considering more children because busy seasons come and go. We have to think long term about what we want our families to look like and what kind of legacy we get to leave behind." It made me feel blessed that God has entrusted us with three children so quickly. It is easy to loose sight of the big picture while you have crying kiddos, a messy home, and a tired mama. But in this moment, right now, I am thankful...and sometimes God gives me glimpses in the middle of our busy life to the kind of people that are being built right before my eyes.

8 months

Our little Elijah is 8 months!! This picture was taking on his eighth month birthday, March 1st, and was proudly colored by Sister Grace. There are such a cute pair.

There is so much going on in our little boys life right now. Lets start with his first, yucky virus. Last week he recovered from a four day, high fever virus. We took him to the doctor twice where they tested for flu, ear infection, bladder infection and who knows what else. Since it was a virus, we just kept him on Motrin to help with his fever and let his immune system fight it out. It was so sad. He was so lethargic and just wanted to lay his head on our chest. His fever got up to 104 at one point which was so scary. He slept a lot, but after four days he began to recover. We were so glad and thankful. He is now completely back to normal and doing great! Take that you ugly virus!


Our little buddy is now crawling, standing up, and trying to get into everything in sight. Yikes! I just turned around for a minute yesterday and he had a big dust ball in his mouth. I didn't even realize it was on the floor, and I had just cleaned. Sigh. Well, at least, I have another helper, Grace, who tries to police what goes in Elijah's mouth. Sometimes, it is her toys she doesn't want him bothering with, but most of the time it is objects she knows are bad...crayons, paper, etc. She is growing into such a helpful little girl. I am so proud of them both.

1 Corinthians 13

I am reading a book right now (actually second time to read it because it is so good!), A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming, that wrote 1 Corinthians 13 from a mother's perspective. Since the subject of LOVE is on a lot of minds right now, I thought I would share it with you with some changes from my own experience...

1 Corinthians 13

If I read the best parenting book, attend the best seminar, and listen to the best mother's advice but do not love my family, I am nothing.
If I keep my home perfectly clean, decorate it to look like a spread from Southern Living, look like a super model, and cook gourmet, organic meals but do not love my family, I am nothing. 
If I disciple college students, teach a women's bible study, and pursue creative hobbies but do not love my family, I am nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and sings the same song over and over again.
Love is kind even when my child spills my coffee all over the floor.
Love is kind even when I am tired and frazzled.
Love is not jealous of others who have fewer children, more free time to pursue their own interest or family in town to help.
Love doesn't try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a mother and wife.
Love doesn't scream at the kids or disrespect my husband.
Love doesn't feel cheated because I didn't get to do what I wanted to do today...read, craft, take a nap, call a friend or exercise.
Love doesn't lose my temper easily.
Love doesn't assume the worst about my family even when they make mistakes.
Love doesn't rejoice when other children misbehave making my children look good. Love is genuinely happy when others to right.
Love bears even the worst temper tantrum, endures every sleepless night, and hopes for the most abundant and fruitful life for my family.

I pray that I can share this kind of love to my family today and forever! Lord please help me.


Happy Valentine's Day!

Elijah almost 7 months

Our sweet, happy, curious little baby boy Elijah will turn 7 months on February 1st, and I am not sure where the time went. I am so excited to watch him grow and hit new milestones. Like learning to crawl, giggle (he has the sweetest laugh), coo and eat solid foods. I had to capture this little boy eating because he LOVES food. He is almost too excited to eat. Take a look:

Last week was another big milestone...well probably for me. I left him in the nursery for the first time. I am sure I could have left him in there earlier, but it was always easy to be right there for him if he needed to nurse or just needed me...I think it made me just feel better. I know older moms are thinking...oh just wait until they go off to kindergarten, on their first field trip, on their first date, college, or when the get married...and I just want to say I don't know how you did it! That has got to be so hard!

Well, I guess the best way to think about it is I am daily lending both of my children over to the Lord since He is the one protecting and guiding them ultimately. Elijah was dedicated to the Lord a few months ago, and it is a good reminder that the Lord has great things in store for Grace and him. So, whether in the nursery or on the football field, God is strong and He loves him more than I can imagine.

Here are some highlights from Elijah's dedication that I never published. God has great plans for you little man. Thank you to my grandfather and husband for making this day so special.

Songs

This Christmas we had many family members we wanted to give gifts to. I usually make gifts because I really enjoy to, but I was running out of time with two little ones. I decided to make everyone a CD playlist of Cliff and I's favorite songs of 2011. These songs have truly inspired and impacted us over this last year. So, in spirit of the new year, I wanted to share with you the mix we came up with:

• Liberty - Shane and Shane
• Glorious Day - the Village Church
• Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman
• His Glory Appears - Hillsong Live
• Awakening - Chris Tomlin
• 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman
• Redeeming Love - Amy Stroup
• I will Exalt You - Hillsong Live
• Overcome - New Life Worship
• Beautiful Things - Gungor
• Never Alone - Barlow Girl
• You Hold me now - Hillsong Live

We have been listening a lot to our playlist at home. Grace has begun to know the songs fairly well. She also loves to sing along. Here is a sample...

Happy New Year

It has been a nice, long holiday break! I am trying to catch up this week from our two weeks of Christmas festivities, traveling and entertaining family. It was very busy but so much fun, and it went by way too fast. The kiddos did so great traveling and were so much fun to be around. Cliff and I have endured through some very tough car rides with Grace, and we were so proud of how well she did this time around. It was so fun watching Grace really take in all of the newness of gift opening, lights, interacting with family, traveling and new places. And 6 month Elijah was as easy as could be. We want to thank all of our family for providing a very special holiday for all of us. We love you!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures this Christmas....

Christmas in Marble Falls...

Riding Mimi and Papa Fish's golf cart

Checking out fish

Making / Eating Gingerbread Houses

Eating more gingerbread houses with Mimi, Nana and Mama

Special Dinner with Mimi, Papa Fish, Cynde, John and us

Christmas in Austin....

Christmas morning with all the second cousins

Grace LOVES her second cousin Selah. Playing with a new present.

Cliff and Elijah in the boat at Aquarena Springs

Looking at fish with Aunt Missa

 Christmas in Brenham...

At the Blue Bell Factory with Nananette and Papa Jim