Wedding week is almost here, which means that even though I am just getting over the dumb stomach virus, and even though I have a personal trainer appointment for tomorrow morning, homegirl had to bust it at the gym tonight. I've cheated way too much on my eating and as a result I have to show myself no mercy for the next week. It will be worth it! It WILL be worth it! (Just to be clear, in no way am I planning to starve myself. Not only is that stupid, but I don't have that much will power. It also wrecks your metabolism.)
When I got home from my step class tonight Curtis had already put Jackson to bed. I could hear him talking and playing in his bed and I couldn't resist going in to say goodnight. Actually, I couldn't resist taking him out of his crib and rocking him for a little while. He was very eager to tell me about his "neigh" - the rocking horse that resides in the corner of the room. He so sweetly laid in my arms like a little baby and was in a very good mood. That is a blessing from God because he hasn't left the house in three days and he should be grumpy as all get out.
It is our habit to sing two songs on the occasion that I rock him before bedtime. One, "Jesus Loves Me," and two, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." I'm a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad singer, but Jackson doesn't care. I started singing and for the FIRST TIME EVER, he tried to sing along with me. Oh my word, it was one of the most precious moments of the last two years.
Jesus...neigh...Bible...
Which sounded like
Jedus...nee...Bi-boo...
It was the most beautiful singing I've ever heard.
After a couple of rounds I felt bad that Curt wasn't witnessing this sacred moment in our son's life. I called for him over and over until Jackson was finally sitting up in anticipation of his Daddy entering the room. As soon as Curt moseyed in, the singing was done. Jackson kicked his little foot in the air and shoved it in his Daddy's face. I should mention that aside from singing these sweet songs, we also have a habit of calling in Daddy to smell Jackson's stinky feet from the rocking chair. Curt typically takes one whiff and falls down on the floor, kicking his legs in the air like a dying cockroach. It is nothing if not a precious, cherished family tradition.
After one round of the feet smelling game, I laid Jackson down and prayed outloud for the Lord to keep him free of the stomach virus. I pleaded the blood of Jesus over his crib and nearly anointed it with oil. I'm so hoping we have an uneventful night. For everyone out there who has sickness in their home, I pray the Lord will bring healing to your family in Jesus' name. This stuff is going around like crazy!
Also, I have to mention that my college roommate Bonny gave birth to a very handsome baby boy today - Johnston Andrew Hicks. He looks just like his big brother Ben and from his expression in his pictures, he seems very happy to be here. He has such smiley eyes. I can't wait to meet you, Baby John! Auntie Manda loves you!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
45 comments:
Oh yes! Those first songs are SO precious! I'm glad you're feeling better and pray that your guys don't get the bug! I had it a couple of weeks ago and my kids didn't get it either. How exciting the wedding's almost here! I'm sure you'll look just fine in your dress.
I think you have smiley eyes, too.
You MUST record Jackson singing somehow. It is a treasure. We have a few recordings of Noah talking to his Daddy on the phone when he was about 2 1/2 saying, "I loooove you Daddy. I loooooove you." It is precious and when I need to smile, I like to listen again.
you go girl with your workin' out self...you will look awesome! (already do)
and i'm not sure there are many scenes sweeter than the one you experienced in that rocking chair! {the singing...not the feet...although THOSE family traditions are just as great and memorable :)}
The sweetness of Jackson singing came across so clearly in your description. Thanks so much for sharing as you do, Amanda! You & Beth encourage me so much to keep up a steady hope and joy in the Lord in my family life. I think I could be more fearful about having children in a few years (oh the areas I know I will fall short!), but I guess God knows all about it, and knows I need some older sisters-in-Christ to show His faithfulness, as you do. Thanks. :)
Oh, that sweet singing...it just makes my heart melt. Yesterday we saw A.'s choir teacher, and the two of them sang something called the poochie lip song. I really do think I got all his sugar when they were finished. He has no more sugar to give.
When my oldest was a baby I received Christ, and started singing Amazing Grace to her when I rocked her. Then with baby girl number 2 I did the same thing, then baby girl #3 same thing. Now they are 15,11, and 8. When we sing Amazing Grace at church it always reminds me of those precious times!
I think the sweetest sound in the world must be hearing your child sing songs about Jesus. (followed by hearing them say "momma" or "i love you" or the first time your husband to be says he loves you).
Amanda~
Those are the most precious moments as your child begins to participate in the tender traditions like " Jesus Loves Me" at bed time.
I remember when my now 12-year-old daughter first wanted to join in prayer with me at bed time. I almost choked with the joy of hearing her little voice say,
"Dear-a Jeebus . . ."
Little Jackson warmed my heart this morning!
Precious times!! I remember rocking my two babies and singing those very songs. Now I have the absolute joy of singing them over my 8-month old grandson. Can hardly wait to hear his little voice join in. I just love those rocking chair moments!
So, so precious!
Oh, how I love those "first" moments when your child does something new :)
Also, I love when parents make up their own little traditions... I think I just started one with my four year old last night that I would like to continue (the game to see who can get the other person to laugh hysterically-I think I am winning for now).
Hoping your whole family stays well, and that you all have a wonderful week as you prepare for your sister's wedding!! Blessings!!!
WEll, that is just the most sweetest time with that baby Jackson!! You'll just treasure that forever. Praying for all of you to stay healthy and well for the big event.
I'm so excited for y'all! Tell Melissa that we are praying!
Hugs~
What a sweet time of singing! But I happen to think the "smelling of the feet" tradition is just hilarious! How did you ever start a tradition like that?!
My three year old is addicted to the High School musical soundtrack and we listen to it nonstop in the van. Yesterday I was belting out the tunes and he said "Mommy stop singing. You're ruining it." Hmmmm.
Amanda, that is precious, little Jackson singing...what a sweet, sweet time!
I am so glad you are feeling better. I have been praying for health and protection for your family. I also have prayed over Melissa's wedding - it is going to be so much fun!
What a precious story about Jackson singing with you - oh you will remember that sweet time forever :)
Have a great day!
Kim
So glad to know you are feeling better!!!!
Have a wonderful time this next week it will all be glorious I am sure.
As for the precious moments. They are to be treasured. I gain strength from them when I feel as if I am failing as a mother or my children are tantruming all the way down the aisle and to the car at the grocery. So glad to know that HE has blessed your sweet momma heart today!
Oh, I just love it when my 2 year old sings. It's a bit cryptic, but the sweetest thing. Didn't your heart just melt? Mine's been stuck on "Away in a Manger" since before Christmas, but it's just way too cute to change her mind.
Could you put up a video so we can all take a listen?
Also, we play the stinky feet game too, and my girls just DELIGHT in it. Simple pleasures, I guess!
Hey Amanda! Thank you for praying over my family. I know you didn't have us, personaly, in your mind but we so need the prayers. We now have welcomed the bug into our home (of 4 children!) for the second time! Yesterday was the first day I washed and fixed my hair in almost a week ( I had a fantastic hair day, too!) only to make it back from teh grocery and a phone call from the school nurse! I was so loking forward to sitting down with the Lord to get filled back up, only to be nurse and mommy! So, thank you for covering us! I am praying that it only hits 1 this time- not the other 5!
Since, I was up last night, I thought about your sweet little family and knew the wedding was coming up. I am praying that God will bless it to His fullness! I was at a LP conference the weekend your mom got your wedding photos back and she was so gracious and shared it with us! You were such a Beautiful Bride. Please pass along our blessings to your mom and sister!
In Him, Stephanie
you can check out our blog at www.journeytome.com -Adoption Stories- Journey to Tatumn Hope
and at www.victorywalk.blogspot.com
Well, you answered the questions I had about how you are feeling and how the wedding prep is coming along! I wish I could have heard precious Jackson singing, but I bet there will come a time in the future where he'll be featured in a blog video!!!
What a precious moment in time. I'm so glad you got to experience that with your sweet Jackson.
so very precious!
that is precious! Are you sure he wasn't singing Jesus and Bibby...just kidding! I know why Mary pondered it all in her heart!! What a blessing!!
Oh, how I pray for your family's health, too. We have all just gotten over the flu which was NOT a party waiting to happen. Thank you for validating my family's stinky feet game! And to think we were the only ones out there. Don't you know that Jesus just loved that sweet singing from you and your boy?!
We sing that song every night too. Sweet song.
I've witnessed the feet-smelling game, but next time I want to see Curtis fall on the ground and kick his legs.
There is nothing sweeter than a young child singing a song of praise to the One who gave him (or her) voice.
seriously. don't think i'm crazy, but i just added sweet little feet-smelling jackson to my list of little people to pray for. we've had it, and i promise you, everyone i know has had it.
so who knew? jackson is on a perfect stranger's list. big h will be lifting him up to Zesus tonight. along with woody from toy story and our mailman.
I just found your blog recently and I hope the prayer for healing from sickness applies to our family! :0) I have three kids with pink eye, nasty colds and fevers. Momma is tired after 1 1/2 weeks of this!
I hope your stomach feels better soon!
How sweet! I hope you all had a restful night!
My singing must be much worse than yours because I was singing to Brady in the car this morning and he put his little finger up to his mouth and said "Shhhhh!"
I loved reading this post! My sweet Ella just did the same thing the other day. I had been singing Jesus Loves Me to her and then she got down from my lap, grabbed her stuffed animal and started singing to it! How precious they are! I just love it. It just amazes me everyday and REALLY makes me realize how great God is when I look at my kids.
You are every woman - working out while getting over the stomach bug. I almost always use that as a get out of jail card for working out for weeks... :) You are going to look absolutely fabulous for the wedding!
And I am not sure what is sweeter the singing or sweet family stinky feet game!
Praying that your boys continue to stay bug free over the weekend!
I so vividly remember the first time my little girls sang along. Those are precious memories.
When our second daughter was born, our oldest was 2 1/2 years old. When my sister and parents brought her in to meet her new little sister, she crawled up into my husbands lap to "hold" the baby. She said "Hi Emma, I'm Chloe. Now I will sing to you...." She went on to sing "Jesus loves me". There wasn't a dry eye in the room, our nurses and Doctor even teared up. It was so precious.
One day, that little boy will belt it out when you least expect it, but it will probably be at the moment you need it most!
Blessings and prayers for an awesome wedding week!
Stephanie
Amanda,
I just love that sweet baby singing! My son Matthew and I sing those songs along with the Doxology at bedtime. I just about lost it the first time I realized my baby boy was praising God with his own singing. I love that memory!
The singing makes my heart melt. I love the way they do a freestyle interpretation of lyrics.
So precious. I wish Jackson and my granddaughter Gina could get together. They'd have a good time. She'll be two yrs old April 25.
(BTW, I should've put *hint hint hint* on the video blog with Jackson!)
So sweet. Guess who will be rocking thier tods to sleep tonight? Everyone who's read this post.... so precious!
Those are the first two songs my kids learned. What a great gift, the love of Jesus.
I loved how you had to go see him and then you had to pick him up! And of course ROCK him! I know he is a treasure. And look at what a sweet blessing you received because you loved on him...a precious song! I'll take the song any day over the stinky feet...but laughing together feels SO right. I pray that laughter rings at that wedding, too!
Hi Amanda. So glad you are feeling better, and I am praying protection for the rest of your family. And all of the wedding details as well!
Jackson is too precious. I love to here my kids sing praises to the Lord, especially their own versions. My 3 year old has been singing "My God is and awesome guy" recently and it is too cute!
Love and prayers ~ Kristin
That is so so sweet! We sang Jesus Loves Me every night and my daughter is 12 and it's still her favorite song. And when she was younger it could calm her like no other.
Oh I just love the image of you holding him in that rocking chair. Precious, precious memory-making days!!
hi amanda! here's praying that your men don't get sick. after i agreed to watch a friend's child tonight, she told me that he had vomited this morning and didn't go to school. UM what in the world? i put my children to bed an hour early just so they wouldn't be around him tonight... you should see me with the hand sanitizer- i am practically bathing myself and my friend's son in it. just wanted to also comment that i sang those exact 2 songs to me first and second born kids but my third wants nothing to do with me singing to him in the rocking chair! :( you just never know!!
Miss you too! Can't wait to see you at the wedding!
Also, Betty's is great! I shall be sharing that we with her!
Girl, I sang those two songs to Peyton and Savannah too. Before Peyton could even talk she could hum some of Jesus Loves Me.
I treasure those times! You need to record him!
sara loves jesus loves me...sings it all the time. Lately she makes "muscles" with her arms all through the song in anticipation of the line "they are weak, but he is strong" not sure where she got this, but she puts her guns up for each verse!
We are JUST now finally recovering from the stomach bug. I think I got it when I took sara to the dr for an ear infection. So far I am the only one...praying it stays that way!!
Wishing you a week of good workouts and strong will power! It'll be worth it on the wedding day!! :)
i remember at that live telecast, your mom talking about you rocking Jackson telling him in a sweet moment what he had meant to you that year---and my heart just melted for you watching you in that auditorium--- and each day brings more gratitude for you...i remember the first words like mama and it so melted my heart, still does...just precious amanda...enjoy all seconds of it for the years turn into young adults and where did that lifetime go? seems like it was just 1991
Post a Comment