Muscle Man

The boys let me sleep in the other morning, which was really nice. I always wonder what goes on in the house when I'm not around. What kind of trouble they are all getting into, and what household items are being harmed in the name of a good wrestling match. :) When I got up...Billy had Merrick tell me the new word he had learned:

So while I was sleeping he was learning to say *muscles* in a very gruff voice and flex. I couldn't get him to flex for the video...but I'm sure there will be one of those soon enough.

Thank Heaven for Little Boys Dinos

The other day I took Merrick shopping for his birthday, which is actually today! *Happy Birthday to my little man! My life is so blessed with you in it.* We were wandering around Toys R' Us, just kind of trying to see what he might want. This costume was not it.

Now I'm pretty sure I know why parents don't like taking their kids in Toys R' Us. I mean, I love the store, so much fun, but the 2 hooligans together in the store? Not so much. Merrick repeatedly telling me to put "Dino, back" wasn't so much fun either.

He had decided he didn't want to be a dino for Halloween, even though Mom thought that it was hilarious. Tirzah was also adding to the fun with a little high-pitched dramatics of her own. I had to hold her and push the cart...

...the same cart that my almost 2-year-old version of Evil Knievel was attempting to dive out of.

He was desperate to do anything to get away from the dinosaur costume that he was being oh-so-heartlessly forced to share his seat with.

We finally settled on a couple of presents, and vacated the premises before they asked us to leave. Although I'm sure I'm not the first frazzled mom they've seen. ;)

And what do you know...when I finally got him home and tried on the dreaded dino...He LOVED it. He got mad when I took it off, and when I decided to have a little dino photo shoot.

For the last 2 years, since Merrick made his appearance after a crazy 20+ hour labor...my life has been anything but dull. I have become a chauffeur, a short order cook, a laundromat, a jungle gym, a kisser of boo-boos, a retriever of the pacifiers and blankies, a bed-time prayer, and a spectator to some of the craziest stunts a mom would rather not see.

I wouldn't change a thing. We love you, Merrick Wilder. Happy birthday, our sweet, happy, crazy, blond wildman. We thank God for you every day.

Run for Their Lives

As I eluded to the other day in my post about our crazy weekend *racing, meetings and Scaremare, driving all over the state, etc* I wanted to elaborate on the race that we were able to run in Saturday morning. There is an organization called Freedom 4/24. *click on the link to read all about the organization...it's awesome what they are doing, and I want more people to get involved in it! :)*

I first heard of Freedom 4/24 through Brentwood Church. *This is the church that Billy and I used to go to when we lived in the 'Burg. Amazing place...we really miss it!* They are trying to minister to girls who are being forced, by poverty, into prostitution. It's a desperate situation for these girls, and their families, and they are selling the only thing that they have left in an attempt to survive...themselves. The stories on the website are heartbreaking, and make me realize how much I have been given...so that I can give it back.

On Saturday, while it seems like such a tiny thing to give in the face of such a huge need, we gave our $24, our time, and our prayers, as we ran for these girls. Volunteers wrote names on our arms so we could have a reminder of why we were running.

I realized as I was running, that as hard as I was pushing myself, my pain during a 30 minute race is nothing in comparison to the life that these young girls are forced into. I have the freedom to run, and am free in Christ also. This race, and the money that was raised, will give 803 *the number of people racing* more girls a chance at that same freedom.

He upholds the cause of the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free. /Psalm 146:7

Scary Busy Weekend

It's that time of year again...Scaremare time. We took our students last year, also...and had a great time both trips. This week at I Heart Faces, the theme is Halloween Fun...which pretty much describes our crazy weekend.

As if our life isn't crazy enough, this year we went down and stayed with his parents the night before Scaremare so we could meet up with our pastor and his wife, and also run the Freedom 4/24 Run for Their Lives race the morning of Scaremare. It was for such an awesome cause...we didn't want to miss it. *Too much to say about that for this post...that will be coming later :)*

Anyway...we ran the 5K Saturday morning in Lynchburg, then headed back home to get the students, only to head back to Lynchburg for the 2nd time that day for Scaremare. We had a great time, again, and also got to hang out with my sister, Amanda, and her boyfriend Jonathan, who heads up Scaremare. He's a great guy, who has apparently helped my little sister overcome her fear of all things creepy:
This girl used to not even be able to watch ET without having nightmares, but is now working in a haunted house for the next several weekends and loving it. The things we do for love. ;)

Chatter Box

Lately little miss Tirzah is getting much more outspoken. We say she has a little flare for the dramatic these days...putting on a big show when she's trying to get our attention. Here is a little video of her chatting up mommy and showing off her dimples. :)

Mascot

Merrick is often referred to as the mascot of our church youth group. I rarely have to pick him up from the nursery after church, because one of the students always beats me to it. He loves the kids, and is learning how to say many of their names. They are good about not teaching him bad habits, and are great at keeping up with his high speed lifestyle. Only occasionally does it lead to something like this:We were hanging out with the youth after church, and one of them gave him a very blue lollipop. I have given him these before, but usually under a bit more supervision. I wasn't paying enough attention obviously, because when we got to the restaurant to eat lunch this is what I found.

He reminds me of something going to a costume party with those crazy blue lips. So...no bad habits from being the 180 mascot, just maybe bad teeth. I guess it's a good thing he loves to brush his "chops". :)

Gratitude

There's something about this time of the year, this season of fall, that makes everything feel cozy. I love fall...like all the other seasons. ;) I think the only season that I don't say I love is winter. But I'm a Christmas fanatic, so I have to give it some credit.

I don't know if it's the warm comfy clothes, or Thanksgiving, or the crisp blue sky and smell of the falling leaves that seems to put everyone in a good mood. Thanksgiving seems to be in a great spot...right in the middle of one of the coziest seasons. It seems easy to be thankful around this time of year. We're often surrounded by friends and family, and people we don't often get to see.

I know I've kind of had a running theme in my thoughts lately, about contentment. It's a huge lesson I'm trying to learn right now so it seems to come up a lot, affecting a lot of what I think and write about. It's not always easy *...scratch that...* it's hardly ever easy for us to be content. It's one of those things that seems to creep in, almost unnoticed, until it's taking over your heart and attitude.

I want so much for my kids to be content, and thankful. So I know this has to start with me, and a living example of what contentment looks like lived out. Wow, big job. Somedays I handle it...not well at all. I notice they're crankier and fussier when I'm cranky and fussy. Some days everything is going wrong, and I have every excuse in the book as to why I can't, and won't, be thankful. One of those days where someone just needs to put me down for a nap. :)

God did one of those "ok...since you just aren't gettin' it" reminders Sunday night at church. One of the girls was singing a song called "Gratitude" by Nicole Nordeman. Awesome lyrics, and definitely a much needed smack upside my thick skull. Here is a YouTube video of the song:

I think my favorite part is where it says "...how to bless the very sun that warms our face, if You never send us rain." In so many words, stop waiting for that perfect circumstance...the one that you think will fill you with that joy you've been chasing and make all things right with the world, and thank God now. Things could always be better, or worse, but chances are they are never going to be perfect. But God is perfect, and perfect for where we are right now.

Now, if I can just remember this when the kids get up from their nap. ;)

DinnerNoodles and a Movie

Billy and I got to go out on another "date night" Monday evening. It was kind of unexpected...he arranged everything with my sisters to take the kids. *Brownie points...I didn't have to do anything. ;)* We went to a new restaurant, well around here anyway, called Noodles & Company.

It was sooo good. I was thinking, an entire restaurant devoted exclusively to noodles sounds like somewhere I would rather avoid. Carbohydrates anyone? :) However...as I am famous for doing...I checked out their menu online to see what this Noodley place was all about. Not what I was expecting at all...they had lots of different things, from spaghetti to whole wheat Tuscan linguine, which was what I got. Very good, and with lots of veggies, so that satisfied the health freak in me. Billy had my worst nightmare...mac & cheese with fried chicken. I'm searching for a cardiologist for him right now. ;)

Then, I finally got to go see Where the Wild Things Are. SO excited to see it...I had heard lots of good things about it. I thought it was really funny, and so cute. It was interesting to see how they brought the book to life. Definitely go see it if you have the chance. :) Like I said before, Merrick definitely reminds me of the little boy, Max, in the book. I'm expecting my royalty check in the mail anytime. ;)

Pretty in Pink

I sometimes feel like all my blog posts are about Merrick. My wild and crazy, blond-haired stunt man. Part of that would be because Tirzah is a little young for stunts, and those tend to steal the show. I am kind of hoping she'll find other ways to occupy herself...like knitting or reading, something that doesn't require a search and recovery mission. ;)

This week at the theme is *Pink* at I Heart Faces.

So this blog post goes out to Tizzy-girl. I feel like the house is much girlier *is that a word?* with her around. I am having a great time with her cute smiles, painted toenails, sweet personality, and flare for the dramatic. *Girl can scream when all is not right in her little world...like if it's been 3 hours and .5 seconds since she last ate. Oh the drama.* I am very much enjoying the little bit of pink she adds to the house.

Got Game?

Around here we don't always agree. Not big issues, mind you, just some little things. *We would rarely ever choose the same place when going out to eat. He's a Chipotle kinda guy, and I'd rather have something like Tropical Smoothie Cafe. He would rather start the day sleeping until the last minute, and I don't feel awake until I've run at least 3 miles. I was born and raised a Cowboys fan. Billy is a Redskins Fan. Ouch, that one hurts. ;)* One thing we have discovered we agree on, however, is the Texas Longhorns. We both love the team, and while I'm not as enthusiastic in my cheering, love to watch them play. Saturday was the day they play in the Red River Rivalry game against OU. Billy was glad to finally be able to see a game, and I was glad Tirzah managed to nap through it. *How is still a mystery to me. Between Merrick's lack of whispering skills, and Billy's near nervous breakdown mid-game I thought nap time was going to be a thing of the past*

It was fun to be able to watch a game together at home...usually we "watch" Texas, on my blackberry via ESPN mobile, in the car on the way back from 180. Merrick seemed interested in the game a little too *off and on, of course*, talking about the guys on the TV "frowing" the ball. Billy always says maybe one day we'll be watching Merrick play football, even for the Longhorns. But with his flare for stunts, Merrick seems more like an X-Games kind of guy to me. :)

Baby Talk

I know it's pretty normal for kids to enjoy being around other kids. Merrick loves to play with kids his age, and loves seeing other babies out in stores and at church/the gym. I think it's so cute though, that Tirzah lights up when Merrick gets in her face and talks to her. He even talks "baby talk" with her...imitating the noises she makes. I secretly worry about what kind of tricks he may be teaching her for later, though...while they are speaking in their secret language. ;) In this video he is wiping her face, because he said she had "juice" on it. *He calls her formula juice* Hopefully they'll keep getting along as they get bigger. No throwing punches like me and my brother did. ;)

Becoming My Mother...Sort of.

I know when you're a kid, you cannot wait to grow up. Adults have all the fun, right? No one telling them to go to bed, *Seriously, did I really NOT want to sleep at one point in my life?*, you can eat whatever you want *people can just tell you've been eating whatever you want*, and you don't have to go to school. *Just ask Billy if you're ever done with school and learning* I hear my sisters saying things like "I can't wait to graduate" and I feel like I'm having one of those 'I'm becoming my mother' moments. You know, like the one where you hear yourself saying "because I'm the mom!" to your child when you swore you'd never do any such thing. :) I have yet to say that btw...but it's coming.

I'm not ancient, don't get me wrong...I haven't even hit 28 yet. But I think I've lived long enough to realize that, while life does get better with wisdom, and the trials and blessings that God gives, we only have so much time in each season of our lives. I'm learning to enjoy where I am. Yes, the sleepless nights, the infant-screaming-at-me-all day, where I am. The terrible two's, the paycheck-to-paycheck, the swampy rental house, the newly smashed bumper on my not-yet-paid for car. *Ouch...that happened Monday. A blown tire flew out from the car in front of us, smashing the drivers side of our apparently very plastic bumper. Sigh.*

All these things I would miss if they weren't here. Well, maybe not the swamp and the bumper, but definitely this stage of life with my family. :) I would miss Tirzah and her chubby cheeks, waking me up in the middle of the night when she's moved away and in college. I would miss Merrick's stunts, irritating as they may be, when he's married with kids of his own. *I most certainly am not secretly wishing several crazy hooligans on both of them one day down the road. ;)*

This time will never happen again. Even though sometimes when I look at my life here and now, it seems like a mess to me, and makes no sense when I am trying so hard to get it right. God sees the end result. He knows how the trials I am currently fighting under will make me into someone even more grateful and dependent on Him. I can't possibly understand where He's taking me, or the awesome fulfillment that will come from giving myself and my family completely to His capable hands. I just need to learn to trust that He is in control. He sees, even when I can't, that this is going somewhere good. :)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
- Jeremiah 29:11 -

Bonnie Mozart and Clyde

Merrick loves to play with my aunt's son, Chase. He lives right up the driveway from my mom, aka Mamoo, so they get together to play when we are over at mom's house. They are both full of energy, and love to be free. Chase is an escape artist just like Merrick, and just the other day his mom found him halfway down the driveway on his bike. He and Merrick are apparently sharing escape strategies. The other night we were hanging out at the house, and Merrick and Chase decided to provide the mood music for us:

I'm glad they have each other to keep themselves busy...the rest of us just can't keep up with them. :)

I'm So Excited

This week at I Heart Faces, the theme is excited...

Right now I am very excited, actually. As I am writing this, I am looking forward to an entire 24+ hours without the hooligans. I am also a little sad, too. Well, ok, I was trying not to cry when I left them at Nanny's house. I was thinking, am I crazy? I've been looking forward to this break since Grandma offered to keep the kids. Why am I crying? There will be no one to spit up on me, no diapers to change, no one to scream and cry, no one stealing another someone's paci, no one scaling every surface in the house, no one wanting to eat every three hours, no one putting their dirty clothes into the dryer, no one throwing things at my while I'm driving, no one playing in the toilet...I could go on for days. It's going to be so...boring, without this excited, chubby-cheeked girl around. :)
Boring in a good way, of course. But I am going to miss my two terribly. Even if it is only for 24 or so hours. They fill up our house with so much chaos energy, and when they are not here we realize even more how blessed we are to be taking care of these two crazy hooligans for these few years. I would like to think the kids are missing me, too. But Merrick just yelled "Bye, Mommy!" as we left and went back to chasing Nanny's dog, and Tirzah was definitely unaware of my departure snuggled up with Nanny. They didn't look sad, but just like me I'm pretty sure they were just trying to cover it up. ;)

Sisterly Love

I've always read that when you are trying to lose weight, pregnancy weight in my case *or my "Tirzah Shae" as I like to call it. ;)* you should reward yourself with something other than food. I had a few I was trying to lose after having Tirzah, so my sister and I decided that we would reward ourselves with getting our ears pierced once I got to a certain goal. *Seemed to me like I was the one doing all the work , though ;) I kept getting texts from her wondering how close we were to our reward, while I'm eating salad and she's having ice cream. ;)*

Anyway...I finally made it. So we decided we would go get a cartiliage piercing while she was home for fall break. We even talked our brother's girlfriend Lydia into doing it with us. We decided to get what is called an outer conch piercing. Which is kind of like a lot of the cartiliage piercings you see, but more on the flat part of your ear and not the curve. Here is Amanda with a funny sign at the shop:

Truth be told it really didn't hurt too bad. We had fun getting our matching earrings and just hanging out for a little bit. Here's some pictures of the piercing. Amanda and Lydia's are the same, but with a red/white gem instead. Maybe next time we have a girls' day out we can do something that doesn't involve me eating salad for weeks. :)

Nice Kitty

This would be how not to make friends with the cat. And for some reason Merrick can't figure out why this cat doesn't like him. :)

This was of him and my mom's cat Taffy. He calls her "mean cack", but I don't think I'd want to be friends with someone twice my size who tortured me either. No wonder she hisses when she sees him coming.

One...Two...Five

Lately we've been working on getting Merrick to count. He's talking up a storm, and repeating everything. *Things we'd rather him not repeat as well. For example, he has lately been telling the neighbor's dog to, "Shut, goggie!". I didn't teach him that, and couldn't figure out where he learned it. Until one of the aunties ratted out one of the other aunties for yelling at their neighbors dog. We're working on nicer ways to tell the neighborhood dogs to keep their thoughts to themselves. :)* Anyway...since he is a parrot we had hoped we could use this opportunity to help him learn some numbers. You'll see how its going in the video. :)

He repeated all the way to 10 for awhile, but then decided 5 was his favorite and he'd just rather say that one. Lately, the few times I tried to get him to count with me, he yells *Amen* when we get to 10. I think he's trying to tell me he's done counting for now, he'll start again when he's good and ready. :)

There's one in all of us...

Ever since I was pregnant with Merrick, when we first realized he was a wild man, *I should have known what was coming with how active he was* Billy and I have collected things from the book, Where the Wild Things Are for him.

As if he decided to go along with it, his first hospital photo looks like he was striking a pose similar to one of the pictures in the book, even:

These pictures are of his 1st birthday party.

The theme? Where the Wild Things Are, of course. :) We got him the book, which he thinks is a story about cats, and I tried to find him a Max Halloween costume last year, to no avail. *Of course they have them this year, with the movie coming out*
Seems like I've seen Max's very expression many times, on Merrick. Needless to say, we are really excited about the movie coming out next week. Not like Merrick would sit still long enough to watch the movie. (The longest he's sat still to watch TV was about 2 minutes, and that was to watch a show where dinosaurs were singing "every dinosaur poops". Go figure.) Billy is a little annoyed with all the Where the Wild Things Are paraphernalia in stores, claiming these people have no idea...that the real wild thing lives at our house. Maybe we should be getting paid royalties. ;)

Caped Crusader Point Guard

Merrick may not be the tallest kiddo around...

But he knows what to do with a basketball.

And I'm sure a cape doesn't hurt. ;)

Crow Hop

I really don't know too much about baseball. It's probably my least favorite sport to watch on TV, actually. Even though I did play softball in high school. So...when Billy called this the "crow hop" I really wasn't all that sure what he meant. I just was cracking up at Merrick, working so hard to "frodit"...which is translated "throw it". :) I guess there may be T-ball games in my future...so I better start learning now. ;)

Calm in the Storm

Lately we've been doing this awesome study with our students called Wired. It's by Louie Giglio, and it's part book, part devotional. It literally has 2 sides, which did confuse the students at first. *Wait...why is the back of my book upside down?!* But each day we are meditating on a Psalm, and more specifically an attribute of God that stands out to us in that particular Psalm.

Today, the attribute was Supreme. In all the craziness that is two kids under two, and both of said children having colds, working part time, driving all over creation for work, and work at the church on weekend, sometimes I feel like I can't catch my breath, let alone sit still long enough to focus on one thing. *I've gotten up probably 10 times already in the process of trying to write this blog. Once because of this:

(Merrick decided it would be more fun to climb into the saucer with Tirzah. :) It took me forever to get him out...they were both stuck. Also, forgive Merrick's just-took-a-bath hair. haha)

During the course of this crazy day...I realized *while listening to this song by Hillsong United* that God is Supreme, even in my chaos. Even when I am busy...He's still in control. I can still rest in Him, even when I get 4 hours of sleep at night because the babies are sick. God is supreme, even in the craziness of my life. And it all makes sense to Him. What looks like a mess to me, when given to Him, will work together for good.

In the quiet
In the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When You call I won't refuse
Each new day again I'll choose

There is no one else for me
None by Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me strength to do Your will
When You call I won't delay

This my song through all my days

All me delight is in You Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
Forever more

I do all my own stunts

Just a few shots of Merrick from yesterday. I received these pix messages from super-auntie while I was taking Tirzah to her check-up at the pediatrician's office. I was worried I might need to go back to the Dr. for stitches for Merrick. ;)
She didn't send me a picture of him climbing the stairs you see behind him...outside the railings. I just happened to walk in the front door and catch that one myself. And then...he managed to figure out how to escape from the pack-n-play he sleeps in at my mom's house. She really needs to invest in a real crib...not like that's going to keep him contained for much longer either.

I am afraid I need to get better insurance. :)