Steve and Jenny Valentine

I have found since becoming a stay at home mom I struggle more with comparisons than I ever remember before having kids.  There's something about being home and raising my children that has brought out this need to compare myself to others {more} than ever before.  I find looking on facebook, other people's blogs and even chatting with my fellow mommy friends, that I don't measure up as a mom.  I don't have all the creative ideas for teaching my child how to learn her ABC's/counting/etc, I'm not sure what sensory play is really is good for, I can't say I even know how to potty train a child since mine doesn't seem to go consistently in the toilet, I lack a sense of what my child(ren) should be learning at each new phase they enter and I certainly don't have time to read the books that are recommended and piling up on my night stand about parenting and discipline.  It's a good day when I have 20 minutes in the Word of God, which I view as much hig...

Isaac turned five months old while we were on our summer vacation.  He is getting to be a pretty hefty little fella!  The week we got back we actually went to the doctor (because he took a fall off the changing table-he's fine!) and while we were there they weighed him.  He is 14 pounds, 7 ounces. Over the past month, he began eating solids.  Started first with banana, avacado and oatmeal.  We were excited to see that he started off eating better than Karis (it took us several months to get her to like eating food!)  He gets excited when you put the bib on him while he's in his highchair because he knows he's about to eat some food! He is rolling over (still hasn't mastered the back to belly roll) He likes laying on his tummy for extended periods of time He giggles and smiles A LOT! He went on his first long road trip (our family vacation to TN) He discovered his toes He is getting better at sleeping through the night and we're close to being comple...

Isaac is four months old! I wanted to wait and post his four month blog so I had his stats from his doctor checkup.  He is healthy and as the doctor said, very active!  What's up with us having "busy babes"?!   Isaac is a whopping 13 lbs, 8oz (25th percentile)!  He is 24 1/4 in long (also 25th percentile) and his head is measuring 40 1/2 cm (10th percentile). His latest happenings include: sucking fingers (specifically the pointer and middle finger) cooing more and making shreaking noises (like his sister did...LOUDLY!) sleeping longer stretches (more on a schedule)-eating once in the middle of the night still holding head up well during tummy time and in the bumbo chair for a short time. Also likes sitting at the table in his highchair during mealtimes. responds to you saying his name by turning and looking at you giggles a lot, especially when it's mommy or daddy talking to him!  He also likes giggling at his cousins. Kar...

Being a stay at home mom (SAHM) brings me many days full of joy and is an extremely rewarding role.  But...there are days that are also very lonely and where I feel I will lose my mind if I have to tell my child to "stop doing that" one more time! I find great encouragement when I read thoughts from other moms who have been there or are currently in the trenches of motherhood themselves...it's a salve to my soul to know that the things and thoughts I deal with day in and day out are normal daily happenings!  The following post is one such encouragment. I trust that you moms will find some encouragement with her words too. I also hope that you husbands and dads reading this find it encouraging as well.  I am very thankful for my husband and appreciate the many moments he cares for me with his words. Enjoy! http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/what-every-husband-should-know-about-stay-at-home-moms#.T9IFsA18VAg.twitter

Isaac passed the three month mark a couple weeks ago (had this blog all typed up but with slow internet was unable to post till today!) I have enjoyed every minute of being his mom (yes including the sleepless nights!) He is getting to be a big boy-although we won't go to the doctor again until four months I think-he seems to be around 12 pounds. He has started blowing bubbles-I've mostly noticed this when he is hungry. He started giggling and it's the cutest thing ever! He smiles often and especially loves seeing mommy, daddy or Karis to smile at.  Friends and even strangers are often excited when he flashes them a little grin.  I'm thankful for my happy boy! He grabs fabric (like his burp cloth or bib) when it's nearby and will hold a toy if you put it in his hand for him but won't hold onto it very long. He still doesn't sleep through the night but has given us an occaional 5-7 hour stretch which is always refreshing.  He doesn't stay too co...