Where does the time go?

Here are some pictures from the last month...

Greer holding Luke about a month ago

Greer and Chad before going to the TCU game
While they were gone, Aunt Ashleigh and Baxter came for a visit.
(Baxter is on the left and Luke is on the right)
The boys had to share a pacifier and learn the art of waiting while their mommies shopped.
I love this picture because it looks like Luke is telling Baxter a secret. I hope that it is indicative of the friendship that they will have for many years to come!
Kate, Amelia, and Natalie came for a visit and we went to the Pumpkin Patch.

A picture of Luke from last weekend

Besides these things, over the last month...

• we went to the State Fair with Chad's parents (Greer loved the rides)


• Greer spent the night with Uncle Mark and Aunt April. They took her to see Elmo!


• We took a class at the Zoo about Farm Animals.


• Greer is loving preschool!


• Luke (and I) are dairy free, and enjoying life!


• Luke is on a schedule.


• I am learning a lot from a parenting Bible Study at church! I highly recommend "Disciplines of a Godly Family" by Kent and Barbara Hughes.


• Chad has been working hard and traveling A LOT. He has been to Oregon, Maryland, Virginia, NC, and Pennsylvania.
  

Thanks for being patient with our lack of communication over the past month. Time is precious these days, and I have been working hard to remain sane through our transition to a family of four. One day I trust that I will have a clearer mind and maybe a restful night of sleep (I think those may coincide with each other).

Something Fun (and Useful)

Yay! Today I have something to offer you. Chad and I use Crown Ministries' Mvelopes budgeting program and love it! I use it to pay bills and keep track of how quickly our money can disappear. I love the fact that it is online, and can be accessed from any computer when I travel. It is very easy to use, and has helped us live debt-free and meet our saving goals!

They recently offered longtime users the chance to buy a lifetime membership and some other perks. Here is a perk that I want to share- A Free 90-day membership! I will send the gift card to the first person who posts a comment asking for it. For those of you that are curious and miss the gift card, check out Crown's website where Mvelopes always has a shorter free trial offer.

Blessings and a Curse

Today was Luke's 1 month appt. Here are his stats...

Height: 23 inches
Weight: 10 lb., 10 oz.

He has been such a sweet blessing to our family, and I am really thankful for his health and growth so far!

The curse...he has officially been diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. I am thankful that this is two months earlier than Greer was diagnosed, but it is bittersweet for me. I am not looking forward to removing dairy from my diet. I had a pity party about two weeks ago when I felt this day was coming, so most of my thoughts today are cerebral. "How does someone with a milk intolerance (that has never been diagnosed) have two kids with a milk allergy?" "If I had more children, would they have it, too?" "How do I keep giving Greer dairy?" "I cannot eat out for another year of my life!"(a little emotion) More to come, but that's enough for tonight.

Preschool!

Greer has been in preschool for 3 weeks now, but I am finally posting pictures of her first day. Since then we have joined a two-day class, and both she and I are loving every minute. It is really a gift to let her have some time away from our home, and to get some time with Luke. Today Greer came home singing "Rise, Shine, Welcome to school today." She doesn't tell me much about school, but that was an encouraging reminder that she is happy!

Aunt April came to help me that week
A rare picture of Greer and Momma

Family of Four

Having two kids sure does cut your blog time out! We are surviving despite little sleep and all the adjustments of a 2-year-old and newborn in the same house. Greer loves Luke, but her behavior would indicate that the transistion is harder than she can communicate. She has been quite a handful the past few weeks! In the midst of it all, this is Chad's busy time at work + he has a new job. He is managing the pro-turf sales for half of the country, so more travel is required. :) If any of you feel the need to get out of town for a few days, please come and visit!

Here are some pictures Chad and I took last night of Luke's first bath. He is growing quickly! Last Thursday he was 3 weeks old.

Lucas "Luke" Charles Tidd

Our little Luke arrived on August 20, 2009 at 5:21 pm weighing 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 inches long. We are all doing well! You can see some pictures we have posted on our Shutterfly webpage, http://tiddfamily.shutterfly.com/ until we have a chance to add some here.

Expecting the Unexpected

Tomorrow marks my 39th week of pregnancy, and to say that I am ready for this little boy to arrive is a bit of an understatement. This week Chad and I have been preparing like mad...

-we both had haircuts

-we cleaned our house

-I made maps of the area around the hospital for our visitors

-I washed and IRONED all of our clothes

-we packed our hospital bags

-I wrapped a present from Greer to the baby and one for a friend that is coming up

-I picked up 12 meals and some sides from Super Suppers

-I dropped off the rocking chair cushions to be recovered

-Chad put together the baby swing

-Chad loaded my car with the baby car seat

At this point, like most pregnant women, I am uncomfortable, overwhelmed, tired, swollen, and very excited. Despite all of the negative physical symptoms, my spirit is overwhelmed with hope. I am filled with joy at the thought of learning his likes and dislikes, the intricacies of his personality, and the details of his physical body. To be completely honest, though, his birth coincides with his sister's refusal to nap, so I am feeling pretty drained.

Now to Chad...He has had the most challenging last few weeks of work! He has asked for one more week before the baby is born. (I will try my hardest, but I have no real control, sweet husband.) He also warned me that if the baby is born on his due date, he will be making a trip to Texas during the first week of September. Yikes!

I am sure that I am not this first woman to be completely overwhelmed at the thought of the expanded responsibilities of an additional child, but I am writing this post to remind my little boy (and myself) how absolutely wanted and loved he was before he was ever known by his earthly parents. God has a way of growing our faith and dependence during seasons of chaos. I am sure that one day we will all look back on this time and see that God was before us hemming us in, and He will be behind us bringing glory to Himself from everything, even our failures. I can't wait to join Chad in bestowing this little man with a special blessing at his birth with amongst other things a name that speaks to the many blessings God has given us through his life.

This post would be incomplete if I did not draw a parallel, if only in my own mind, of the birth of our Savior and how the "chaos" of the events have produced by far the biggest blessing I have ever known. God became man, and chose to make an appearance in the humblest of places, times, and amongst the lowliest of people- a foreshadowing of the humility Christ showed as he suffered a death He never deserved, so that I might know and depend on His heavenly Father. Nothing would bring me more joy than to see my little man embrace the same Christ and to find his purpose wrapped up in a love more vast and complete than what his parents could ever offer.