Teenage Mutant Ninja "Turtle"

Some friends of ours cleaned out their kids old videos the other day. They passed the discarded ones onto us. We were really excited. One that Streed is especially excited about is the Turtles. He was already into action movies and fight scenes in particular since he loves "Narnie" aka The Chronicles of Narnia. But, after watching the Ninja Turtles he has taken it to another level. I am limiting his watching of it. This is a picture of the fierce Streed. Be afraid, be very afraid. In case you are wondering, or feeling sorry for him that a broom is his sword...he is not allowed to play with swords anymore. Chip's mom works for an oral surgeon. A little boy came in one day with a serious injury due to playing with a plastic sword. We were ordered to take them from him. Don't you love the backwards underwear. Also, I put "turtle" in parenthesis because that was Streed's nickname when he was a baby.

Funeral/Celebration Service

Chip and I attended a funeral today for a 3 week old baby girl. She was the first born of a couple here. Chip met the husband when he was a student at SLU and we just met his wife last summer. (Chip met Eddie in the dorms. He played on Chip's intramural softball team one year and went to one Christmas Conference. It was at this Christmas Conference that Eddie became a Christian one morning while he and Chip were talking about the Lord over breakfast.) We met Amy the week we both found out we were pregnant and we were both actually due on March 9. She ended up having a c-section on Feb 24th and me on the 28th. It was not until her baby was born that they discovered she had a chromosomal abnormality. They knew immediately that she most likely would not make it very long. I haven't heard all the details but I know she was loved hard those 3 weeks.

The couple was so strong today. They wanted it to be a celebration of her life and the time they had with her. The pastor said it was a celebration because she was created perfectly and was now in a perfected state with her creator. The pastor spoke, the daddy spoke, they showed a slide show which included pictures and tons of scripture and then they opened the floor for anyone to share about how they had been touched by Rebekah. Almost everyone spoke about how Amy & Eddie's faith and commitment to the Word is what impacted them the most. This encouraged me that years ago when Eddie became a believer and decided to follow the Lord, God knew what he would have to walk through. I am so thankful that Chip was a part of his life and his faith. I am well aware that God did the work in Eddie's life, he just used Chip (among others). What is neat is that after he became a believer, he and Chip actually lost touch. Chip bumped him a few years ago and asked him where he had been. He said after he became a Christian he had to get away. He got plugged into a local church and had been growing. It is very evident as we have spent time with him this past year. When you think about Baby Nate pray for the family of Amy & Eddie Koch (pronounced Koe) as he and Rebekah were almost the same age.

Attn Days Fans

How many times can Hope get kidnapped, really? This has become my down time as I eat my lunch and the kids nap. I know I could use the time a little more wisely. Maybe I will do that soon.

Sick Sissy

Ella cried off and on last night in her sleep and felt hot when I went in there. She then took an early nap. This tells us she 1. doesn't feel well and 2. probably has an ear infection. So, this afternoon I took her to the doctor and there is fluid on her ear but the pain and fever seem to be more related to a sinus infection and a red throat. Poor baby fell asleep on the couch when we got home. She is SICK...she only sleeps in her crib, in her sleep sac, with her baby and paci.

Sleeping Nate

I don't need no paci. I don't need no sleep sac nor a swaddler. Just put me on my tummy and leave me alone.

Awake Nate

Nate is having more awake time. About an hour (including his feeding time). Our routine the past day or so has been to eat and then "play" on his mat for about 15 minutes or until he starts yawning/fussing. Then it is off to the old pack-n-play for a 2 hour nap. This afternoon Streed got on the bed with him and was talking to him. I heard him say, "hey baby nate. peek-a-boo."

Another Hand-Me-Down

Yesterday Ella wore my old Easter dress. My mom took a smocking class and made me this dress when I was three. Nate was sleeping while I was taking these pictures. I basically scooped him up right before we left for church. I am sure it won't be long before he too is a part of their photo shoots.

Easter Bunnies

These were Ella's ears last Easter. She loves to share with Taylor.

Sweet Nathan

Here is the sweetest baby. He sleeps ALOT and rarely cries. The kids love him.

Time with Nana

Chip's mom came and helped us out for a week. She did lots of fun stuff with the older kids like coloring eggs, painting a bird house and playing in the yard. Here they are painting the bird house...and Ella's face.