Cup overflowing! {2 weeks. 18 months.}

So I wanted to be very diligent about updating my blog about the milestones that Benjamin and Samuel hit from this point on because I found that when I went to make Samuel's baby book, I was not very successful remembering all the nitty gritty details. However, to be extremely exact when documenting smiles, snapping pictures, and various other activities that must be done to keep up, it's just almost close to impossible. I mean, I have an 18 month old and a 2-week old, for cryin' out loud! Can you believe that? TWO SONS!

Here are the stats of Benjamin's birth:

Born at 2:37pm, weighing in at 9lbs, 1oz, with a height of 20.5 inches! 

The past 2 weeks have been the craziest whirl-wind from giving birth to Benjamin, having family in town, being told that Benjamin was not gaining enough weight, to balancing the beautiful chaos that is Samuel Clutterham! It has been full of ups and downs, but has been so precious thus far.

In the first week, we have been working on getting Benjamin to eat better and to gain more weight. When we first went into the Dr. (a bit earlier than 1 week since he was a little jaundice), Benjamin had gone from 9lbs1oz (birth weight) to 8lbs3oz. The Dr. told me to begin supplementing his feedings with extra breast-milk. This is exactly what happened with Samuel so I was prepared to begin this journey of long pumping sessions and bottle experimentation. Benjamin seemed to be doing a lot better, however when we went in 2 days later, Benjamin had not gained anything! I was devastated as I felt I had been working so hard to plump him up. With that, I determined to work diligently day and night to get this guy gaining weight. We continued the regiman and two days later we went into Dr. Nick's office and Benjamin had gained 9oz! Bringing him to 8lbs12oz! What a relief and praise to our gracious God!

In the past two weeks, Benjamin has grown (not only physically) so much! He is eating much better and sleeping better as well. We have some hiccups during day-time naps, but for the most part, he is a pretty consistent baby. He wakes up once during the night to be fed and falls (for the most part) right back to sleep until I wake him at 7am to get him fed before big brother wakes up at 8. 

Samuel is enjoying the baby more and more. He runs into our bedroom to see his little brother, which usually ends in us escorting him out so that Benjamin can rest. He is very interested when he gets the opportunity to interact with little brother and tries to touch his nose, eyes, ears, or head. I think he likes how soft Benjamin feels. He gets very, very excited when he's allowed to explore :)

 We enjoyed a short stroll in the neighborhood in our double stroller. I love how the side Benjamin sits on can recline all the way back so that he is able to join in the fun! I look forward to when both of the boys are sitting up enjoying the view...and each other! 

Along with new adventures and new challenges, we have also been blessed with a wonderful ministry through Baxter Avenue Church! The MEAL ministry! Throughout the past two weeks, God has provided wonderfully tasty meals through this amazing ministry! Unfortunately, I haven't taken pictures of every meal or visitor, but if I had, I would proudly display them :)

Until next time, here are a few pictures that we took in the hospital of Benjamin Henry Clutterham:

Benjamin meeting Dr. Nick for the first time! He is such a great pediatrician!

Coming HOME!

FIRST BATH {9.25.12}

Tummy time :)

Join me in praising our living God for such sweet blessings! He is so good and gracious!

{Forgive me if this post seems a little scatter-brained. Hopefully future posts will be a little more "together" :)}

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She has been with Jesus!

 

Today, as I was reading my Bible (I'm working through Dr. Horner's Bible Reading Plan), I came across a passage that I've read many times but was truly amazed by for the first time. I was reading Acts 4, where Peter and John are before the council after being put into prison for preaching "in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." The next section of this account is what truly amazed me this morning:

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:8-13

First off, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was so bold! He spoke God's truth with clarity and conviction. It was this boldness that allowed him to say what I always desire to say but often allow my sin to keep me from saying:

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 

I began to think, "I AM filled with the Holy Spirit and because of that, I can proclaim this message to people who need to hear it!" It was just astonishing to me that this same Spirit who gave Peter this boldness is the same Spirit living within me!

The next thing that really got me thinking, was the people's responses to this message that they were hearing from Peter and John. Just as I was astonished, so were these men overhearing this message. Not only were they astonished, they "recognized that they had been with Jesus." What made these people recognize that these men had been with Jesus? Was it the miracles? The fact that they were uneducated and common? Or was it because these men were filled with the Spirit boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ, though they had no worldly education? I dare say it was the latter. God had given them boldness - a light - that was undeniably from above. 

I began thinking, "well, my goodness, if people heard me speak would they recognize that I am a child of God? Would they decipher that I spend time alone with God, learning His heart so that I might be more like Him? Would it be unmistakable that I have been with Jesus?? This was a convicting thought that reminded me of my need to daily check my life to be sure that I am being a light in this world!

I was also reminded of something else, however. That we are called to be bold, but at the same time, we are called to be gentle. It is FAR too easy to be bold without the element of gentleness. I know too many people, including myself, who have royally messed up the opportunity to give the gospel, a rebuke, or even an encouragement because the way they presented it was much too harsh. When reading this passage about Peter's boldness given by the Spirit, I could not help but think of this passage:

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15

Here is the same man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and with boldness in the book of Acts. He must have learned his lesson, just as I am continually learning, that the message preached must be preached with respect and gentleness or it will be futile. I love that Jesus is our perfect example of being bold, yet gentle. I love that, because of the Holy Spirit, we can be like Him!

Those were just a few thoughts from my reading today. May I be the type of woman that when people interact with me, they recognize that I have been with Jesus! 

PS: Today is the first day of February. Second month of the Joy Dare!

I'm also starting this today!

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