Big news at our house...

WE HAVE A WALKER!!!!! M took his first steps today! This morning during daddy's message M took his first 4 steps in between me and a great friend C, L's mom. Why did he take his first steps without his daddy or a camera? Well, my friend was trying to get L to walk between her and someone else and he was doing well, he is really close. I said, "Wow, M would not do that. He is too stubborn (or something like that)" and of course he had to prove me wrong. My friend knew that these were the first steps and we just stared at each other in shock that it happened without Brandon or on camera.

He took a couple more steps (caught on camera) right after church, but was hungry, tired, and not in the mood. Then, after his nap he was in the family room with daddy and took many steps (again not on camera). I came in the stepping continued and we did LOTS of filming so grandparents, you will get to see some of his first steps!

Other news:
My parents were here this weekend and we had so much fun with them. M loves them and seeing them together warmed my heart so much. Their time here was way too short. I am thankful that we have plans to see them in May, June, August, Sept or Oct, and Christmas (and any other day they feel like visiting... HINT HINT). That is quite a few times when you live 8 hours apart!

M went 3 days in a row without a morning nap. Two of the days he took a long afternoon nap and then yesterday he took a short nap in the pm. This morning he was up early and I could tell he would not have been a happy baby at church so he took a 30 minute am nap and that was enough to get him through. Overall, sleeping continues to be such a struggle for us. Nights are very hard too. We would covet your prayers for us in this area. Yes, I would be fine with him never taking an am nap again. I know that almost 20 months is old for an am nap, but when you wake up at 5:00 it is very hard to make it until 1:00 without totally crashing! I thank those of you who have been praying because each day as I lay in bed at night I praise God that He sustained me that day. Some days are so hard that I am curious to see if He can do it, but He is a BIG GOD and He continues to sustain!

M went with me (and my dear friend C and her little boy L) to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's this week. We had a great time and got lots of wonderful treats and spent a whole lot of money. It is a good thing I go to Whole Foods once every six months because it is not a cheap place, but the best place for me to get my GFCF foods and other health things. I got lots of vitamins for M which seem to be going over well!

After a successful trip shopping on Wednesday I figured we could go to Aldi alone on Friday. Wow, was that a humbling experience. I need to say that I have taken children shopping with me MANY times over my years nannying so I was not a novice, but I sure looked like it :) So, M started out in the Ergo and then as we made our was through the store went back and forth from Ergo to cart, crying much of the time. When we arrived at the check-out he was in the Ergo and NOT willing to come out. He loves to tip his head WAY back in the Ergo so I had to use one hand to support him and could only unload my VERY FULL cart with one hand. It was taking so long that the lady behind me offered to help (humbled). Then the cashier said the total and I was shocked. I knew it was way more than the money I brought with me. I then had to dig through the cart and find all the expensive items to be returned. Aldi is a cash only place and when you are used to using a card (and paying it off every month) it is hard to bring enough cash. Honestly, I checked my cash supply before leaving and thought I had enough. It would have been enough too if they didn't move a favorite item of mine to clearance (and are not going to restock it) so of course I had to buy 10! Anyway, as I dug through my cart the line was getting SO MUCH LONGER (humbled again). Then I had to pack up all my groceries. M was still in the Ergo and I was putting things into my amazing banana box. These boxes have gone with me to Aldi for many years now as they are so strong. While I was stacking I realized that the box was getting heavier and heavier. M wanted nothing to do with the cart and I was left to just stare at this box which I knew I couldn't lift (as he is in front of me). A woman with FOUR small children came over to me and said, "It looks like you could use some help" (HUMBLED) and I immediately took her up on her offer to lift the box into my cart. What a trip!

A photo post will come soon, but I am waiting on some photos from my mom's camera! We are so thankful for God's grace in our lives. I want to tell you all that I have a couple of posts brewing one is about vaccines and then other is about our life group study of the book "Good News For Those Trying Harder." I am learning much in each area!