A sad day for the Longhorns (and Ricky)

Last Thursday was the College Football National Championship game between Alabama and Ricky's beloved Texas Longhorns. We were all very excited about it and prepared all day for the big game. I dressed the girls and Titus in their Texas gear, Ricky's request. The girls and I made signs to surprise him when he got home and our dear sweet neighbors made his favorite pumpkin pie. Those of you that know him know what a big fan he is.






We watched all the pregame and were excited to watch the big game. The Longhorns were the underdog but came out fighting and scored very quickly after the game started. Now, I really do enjoy college football ecspecially Texas football but not as much as Ricky does. Sometimes it is more fun for me to watch him react to the game than the game itself. He is not one of those fans who scream and shout and make outbursts but more of an introverted diehard fan. He takes his longhorns seriously. You can just see the intensity on his face and when the game goes to commercial he gets up off the floor or the couch (see he goes back and forth) and paces around the house until the game is back on. He makes me laugh! :)
Well, as you probably guessed from the title of this post,the longhorns lost. We were leading and playing so well and then in about the first 5 minutes of the game our star quater back got hit and hurt his throwing arm and was never able to return. The freshman backup who never played a college game in his life had to play the rest of the game. We hung in there but with a rookie QB we just couldn't come out with the win. The QB who got hurt (Colt McCoy)is a beilever and always has such class as he is interviewed and thanks God and praises the other team. I have always been impressed with him and when he was interviewed after this last game (his last college game ever) He said, "I would have given anything to be out there with my team but I don't question why things happen, God is in control of my life. It's disappointing but I am still standing on the Rock! Congratulations to Alabama, they played a great game!" You just don't hear those kind of things from our athletes these days and I know that God is using that young man in great ways! Ricky was very sad but life goes on.


I took these pictures during the not so fun parts of the game.

"T- Man"

I love this picture! Every time Avery sees Titus she calls him "T-Man" and loves to give kisses.

Christmas 2009

We had a very nice Christmas in Duncanville this year. We missed my sister and her family as they spent Christmas in Arizona this year and we missed my brother who is in Afghanistan. We also missed Ricky's sister and her husband as they spent Christmas in Spain but we got to see all the J girls (Ricky's cousins) and their spouses who are all spread out over the country. We got some fun baby news from family, 4 girls on Ricky's side are all expecting this next year - not us, thank goodness, we will let some others have all the attention for a while! The girls and Titus got some fun things this year. The girls got matching clothes which is always fun and a new kitchen to share as well as a doll house to share! Ricky's parents gave Titus Ricky's old wooden rocking horse from when he was a little boy. They had it refinished and will be such a treasure to keep in the family! Granny made my girls their very own quilt for their first Christmas and so I was so hoping she would make one for Titus and she did! I was thrilled, it will be something that will mean so much to them one day! While we had a good time, it was a bit stressful for me having to pack for us all and then keep up with all our stuff and care for three little ones. We decided that next year we will enjoy Christmas at our home, at least not be gone so long.

Just the three of us

We huddled them altogether on the couch before church yesterday and by some miracle they did great! The other miracle was that we still made it on time for church!

Merry Christmas!

We just got a new computer and have not transfered our pictures yet but I did get our Christmas pictures downloaded from the cd to share. I just love them!









This outfit and blanket were Ricky's when he was a baby. I wish his eyes were open but he was a sleepy boy.

What a great day!

The last few days have been nothing but God's goodness to me! I know you are probably wondering what has happened that has been so good but I don't have any one particular thing or a sweet story to share. I just finally feel like our family has some solid ground to stand on and that we are finally conforming to a family of 5. The last 10 almost 11 weeks have been nothing short of choas and disorder and if I am really honest with you (and myself)I have to say I do not work well with choas and disorder. We love our sweet little Titus but the beginning of his days were not so sweet. Not only does just adding a third child complicate things by itself but a very fussy, very cholic baby takes it to a whole new level. He ate every 2-2 1/2 hrs around the clock and cried inconsolibly every night and most mornings for about 2-3hrs. I was exhausted and weary. But in all of this I could not love him any more than I do today, now is that not God's doing or what? Ricky said the other day that we just have this bond (Tius and I) and I really do feel like we have from day one. Maybe because he hasn't left my side since he was put in my arms. He loves me and I can tell that he does when he looks at me and stares straight into my eyes. He will be 11 weeks old on Tuesday and I feel like I am just introducing you to him. He was born Sept 29 at 2:19pm and was 7 lbs. 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. Our shortest out of the three (that has Ricky just a tad worried :). At 6 weeks old we began to supplement breast milk and formula and no kidding yall, the very next day we saw improvment in his crying fits. Within a week it was night and day difference. I just think the poor little guy was hungry, even though I nursed him about every 2 - 2 1/2 hours I just don't think I was enough. Eventually I quit nursing and he is now totally on formula and a very happy very sweet loveable little man who warms my heart with his cooing and smiles. He is sleeping about 8 hrs at a time at night, thank the good Lord! The girls just love him and even though I have the most Titus time and Ricky takes on the girls most of the time, he loves his little "T-man" bunches! Today Ricky was changing Titus' diaper on the floor and Titus was not happy about it so I watched as Leigh and Avery gathered around him and Leigh said,"what's a matter Titus" and then Avery said, "what a maner Titus?" So sweet! Avery also likes to give him is pacifier but in the process almost shoves the whole thing in his mouth so we have to watch her a bit. Things are still rocky and every day brings on more challenges but God has been good to us! I prayed a few days ago as I was sitting one late night in the recliner feeding him, all was quiet and I just prayed that God would help me to be happy and content right where I was and to enjoy these days even in the hard moments. I was feeling so frustrated with just about everything. I prayed he would help my stressful and uptight ugly heart to love this calling in my life. This has been probably the hardest time in my life, totally sacrificing myself and my agenda, (and a clean house now lets just be honest!)I prayed that instead of resenting the fact that it is not about me at all right now I would embrace it and love this time in my life. The next two days we did not get out of our pajamas, I got lots of overdue piles picked up, Titus and Avery napped very well, I felt rested, our neighbor picked up Leigh from school to play for the day, and I cooked dinner the last 2 nights. God was good to us in the very simpliest ways! It is still down right hard managing 3 little ones and I'm not about to say we have a handle on it, but God has given me grace the last two days to keep on going! What a great God we serve, I just wish I was a better servant but isn't that why WE HAVE THE CROSS! God Bless you this Sunday and hopefully I can blog more!

Why Not?

Here is a little glimpse of what a great guy and dad Ricky is. This picture was actually taken about early May when it still wasn't quite time to swim and the cover was still on. I remembered it and thought I would share it with you. The neighbors and cousins were over at our house and they all wanted to go swimming so bad so Ricky let everyone get down to there "skivies" (spelling? his translation)and take a dip in the pool. Of course they all just love Uncle Rick, Mr. Rick, and daddy! He is so great with the kids and includes them in all his little endeavors!

Waffles!

Leigh accompanied us in church again today. This has not been the easiest transition but to be honest transitions or change are never easy with Leigh. She will be 4 in 8 days so she has been trying to sit in church with us because for one she does not want to go in the nursery class anymore (that has always been a big fight) and we think that its probably time to learn to sit with us. This morning did not go over well which resulted in a spanking after church because of her disobedience but there was one funny moment in the middle of losing our patience. I leaned over and whispered to Leigh that this was the time that we needed to sit still and be quiet while we learn about Jesus and this is what she said to me:

Leigh: "momma did you have waffles for breakfast?"
Me: "no"
Leigh: "because you smell like waffles."

(Avery had a waffle with syrup this morning that I fed to her so apparently I smelled like waffles.)
I had to just laugh then I leaned over and told Ricky and he laughed too.
Thank goodness for their sweet little interuptions every now and then or I think I would totally lose my cool!