Friday, December 7, 2012

Thanksgiving & Tree trimming {in Photos}

In recent days, I have picked up our Canon Rebel T3i to start capturing some of the memories we are making in our little family! It has been so fun to experiment with different settings and to watch our little boys {especially Samuel} enjoy the world around him, discovering all the beauty!

Benjamin is 2.5 months old and growing like a WEED! He is over 16 lbs and we are falling more in love with him every day! He just started sleeping about 10-11 hours a night which has helped momma get back into the swing of "normal" life {whatever that is!}.

Samuel is also growing like a weed, but more in personality and disposition. It is EXCITING to see how inquisitive, adventurous, and sweet he is becoming! He loves giving hugs {especially to baby brother} and playing in the dirt. He is definitely boy boy boy!!! We absolutely love it. I'm just having to get used to all the rough-housing going on in this little apartment :)

Here are a couple pictures documenting our simple little life here in Louisville, KY {and some from our trip to FL for Thanksgiving}. Some are from the handy iPhone, while others are taken on the SLR :) Enjoy.

{yummm...cinnamon rolls!}

Samuel and Paxton hanging out on Thanksgiving morning while momma and aunt Jen watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while eating cinnamon rolls - tradition for as long as we can remember!

Aunt Jen LOVES her nephews!

It was such a glorious feast! I can't wait until next year!

Grandpa and Grandma can't get enough of their guys! {Benjamin, Paxton, & Samuel}

We had a little fellowship while we were home, at the Harsh's! Autumn does such a great job with the little ones. She takes after her momma! :)

The outfit that Summer got Benjamin! He's definitely not little, but he is my "little man"

Melissa joined us to pick out our Christmas tree. What a fun time!

Samuel had the job of holding down the tree on the drive home ;)

Joshua hanging the lights! {LOVE Christmas!}

The finished product!

Our little guy decorating cookies at the Bush's :)

We're going to miss Mel when she goes back to FL, but we're thankful for the time we had with her here :)

{yummm}

{Brotherly love}

Samuel enjoying the beautiful weather

{chalk, leaves, and basketball!}

He is so sweet to his momma!

Learning about Jesus through the Jesus Story Book Bible advent calendar!

May I continue to seek the face of God as I seek to live a life reflecting my redemption!

Cup overflowing! {2 weeks. 18 months.}

Meredith 6:46 PM 2 comments Edit

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" :)}

Grace in Trials

Meredith 6:36 AM No comments Edit

A fitting prayer from the Valley of Vision. I pray that in the deepest of trials, trouble, and heartache, God would increase His graces that would empower us against our own flesh and the darts of Satan...

Grace in Trials

FATHER OF MERCIES, Hear me for Jesus’ sake. I am sinful even in my closest walk with thee; it is of thy mercy I died not long ago; Thy grace has given me in the cross by which thou hast reconciled thyself to me and me to thee, drawing me by thy great love, reckoning me as innocent in Christ though guilty in myself.

Giver of all graces, I look to thee for strength to maintain them in me, for it is hard to practise what I believe. Strengthen me against temptations. My heart is an unexhausted fountain of sin, a river of corruption since childhood days, flowing on in every pattern of behaviour; Thou hast disarmed me of the means in which I trusted, and I have no strength but in thee.

Thou alone canst hold back my evil ways, but without thy grace to sustain me I fall. Satan’s darts quickly inflame me, and the shield that should quench them easily drops from my hand: Empower me against his wiles and assaults. Keep me sensible of my weakness, and of my dependence upon thy strength. Let every trial teach me more of thy peace, more of thy love.

Thy Holy Spirit is given to increase thy graces, and I cannot preserve or improve them unless he works continually in me. May he confirm my trust in thy promised help, and let me walk humbly in dependence upon thee, for Jesus’ sake. (Valley of Vision, p. 310 of the little black leather edition)

A secret to joy

Meredith 9:59 AM No comments Edit

It's been almost two months since I've written a blog post. This hiatus was certainly not my intention and I hate that I haven't kept up with writing. Granted, I am not a writer, but thought this would be a good avenue to encourage, bless, challenge, etc. So, I've come to write a very brief post about a song I heard on the radio yesterday. The song is Steven Curtis Chapman's Do Everything. I have actually heard the song many times before but I've never actually listened to the very first verse. It was SO encouraging to me:

You're picking up toys on the living room floor
For the fifteenth time today
Matching up socks and sweeping up lost Cheerios that got away
You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips
And head out the door
And while I may not know you I bet I know you
Wonder sometimes does it matter at all?
Well let me remind you it all matters just as long

As you do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you
Cause He made you to do
Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face
And tell the story of grace
With every move that you make
And every little thing you do

This came as such an encouragement to me as just that very morning, I was thinking, "I think I pick up more cheerios than Samuel puts in his mouth." Funny how a song can express my very thoughts :) Anyway, I began thinking about my own fight for joy in the everyday life of being a wife and mother. These lyrics - this biblical concept - is one secret to having joy in the mundane: Do EVERY LITTLE thing to the glory of God. For His kingdom. Because He loves you and died for you.

This song definitely helped me this morning as I was disinfecting and swiffering our entire apartment. Clearing our germies to the glory of God! Amen?

May I do everything "to bring a smile to His face" :)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23

Happy Birthday, Samuel

Meredith 6:17 AM 3 comments Edit

My heart leaps for {joy} yet sinks at the same time when I think on how fast this year has gone by and how much our sweet Samuel has grown and developed! It was one year ago that Joshua and I went into the hospital (almost exactly as I write this post at 6:45am) to welcome our first son into this world. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! WHAT A JOY!!!

I never really knew all the precious and tender moments we would experience in a year's time, but let me tell you: It has not only been the sweetest year in our marriage, but probably one of the sweetest years of our lives. God has blessed us beyond what we could have EVER imagined or hoped for by giving us Samuel Norton Clutterham. He brings so much joy, enthusiasm, laughter, and like I said PRECIOUS moments into our lives and we are so grateful that God has made us stewards over this little life.

As I scroll through the many pictures that have been taken of this awesome little guy (trying to give you all just a taste of joy that we get on a daily basis :), my eyes fill with tears as I am humbled by God's favor that He has bestowed on us! Here are just a few from Sam Sam's first year!