I Should Get Paid For This (part 3)

I seem to get a lot of responses for different products I find helpful in this stage of life for me. So here is one you can get a laugh from too! I actually own one of these, and if you are a friend of mine that is going to have a boy, you will probably recieve one from me as a shower gift, because I love it!

It's called a Wee Block! The picture explains it all!! It's so funny, but extremely useful especially in the newborn phase when anytime air hits the little man parts the fire hose starts spraying! I have one that is called "Capitan Blast Off" They have so many funny ones out there (ladies man, wee wee man, 'lil squirt, whizz kid, jock, etc). I saw on one website it was labeled "the most ridiculous baby product out there". I have to say, I strongly disagree!

Stupid Criminals

Sticking on the News Theme...I love hearing Stupid Criminial stories! Here is one that made me laugh out loud!

A man tried to rob a car shop and the employees said they couldn't open the safe unless the manager was there...so what did the wise guy do? He left, not one but 2 phone numbers for them to call him on when the manager got in! He said if they didn't call him back he would shoot them. Obviously the employees called the police and when the robber showed back up, he got shot!
It's true! Read it here!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-muffler-robbery-both-26mar26,0,613152.story

Unreal, Real News Flash!

I love reading news stories that seem unreal...here is the latest one I heard last night on the news:

"According to an expert in the U.S., sending excessive text messages and e-mails may be an indication of a mental illness."

"Psychiatrist Dr. Jerald Block says there are four specific symptoms: suffering from feelings of withdrawal when a computer cannot be accessed; an increased need for better equipment; need for more time to use it; and experiencing the negative repercussions of their addiction. ...Perhaps 20%to 24% require medication or hospitalization.”

I know some people that are addicted...but a mental illness???!! Come on! If you bring that out to it's logical conclusion, where do you stop? What wouldn't be considered a mental illness next? That's just plain silly.

I Should Get Paid For This (Part 2)

 Here is my latest find in infant/toddler products that I love and will never live without again...

Kiddopotamus brand "Bibbity" and "Swaddle Me"

After many tries with different bibs for a Toddler that loves to play with his food, I have discovered the best bib around! (Thanks Janna!) It's flexible, washable, and should last forever! It's a bib that can grow with the kid that doesn't have velcro so it won't wear down. 

The Swaddle was a great product too, especially for a newborn (Thanks Shelby!). He has grown out of the one he has now, and I would love to get the larger one for my oversized chunky monkey of a baby. I never had any type of swaddler for my 1st kid, we just used an oversized receiving blanket, but my #2 can already break out of that thing in 0.2 seconds. This Swaddle Me thing is pretty sweet!

If you're a new mom, or going to be one soon, put these babies on your registry! And if any Kiddopotamus reps out there are reading this...please send me a large! :)

I seriously sound like an info-mercial, huh!

Your Hair is Everywhere...

That's a Dashboard Confessional song incase you didn't know (I'm a fan). So here is my thought of the day...

Why is hair pretty when it is on your head, but as soon as it falls off it's automatically disgusting?

I tend to lose a LOT of hair a few months after having a baby, it's sad to see it go, I love how thick my hair gets when I am pregnant, so it's hard to part with it. Seriously, every time I touch my head more hair falls off...it was so bad after having Aiden that Ross and I were afraid I was going to go bald! Let's hope that doesn't happen! Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? 

I have a shedding problem.

RRR, Ye Matey!

You know they say "never wake a sleep walker". I wonder why? Well, here's my funny story for the day.

When I was younger I used to sleep walk pretty regularly (especially in elementary school for some reason). One scary time my mom found the front door open and I was outside! But there were some funny times.

She caught me one time bending down and touching the ground as I walked down the hall in the middle of the night. She asked me what I was doing and I said "picking flowers". I have no recollection of these events, by the way.

The funniest time had to be when I was walking towards the bathroom one time in the middle of the night and my mom saw me, I was probably about 8 years old. I was walking all funny and all of a sudden I yelled "RRRRR, Ye Matey!" I guess I was dreaming about pirates! :)

I don't think I sleep walk anymore, at least no one has told me I have. 

Do you have any weird sleep habits?

St. Augustine was Smart (not the city)

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD354-430) was an amazing theologian and philosopher and I thought it was appropriate to share some of his quotes that have impacted me this Easter weekend. 

"If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself." 

"Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature."

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." 

"Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe."

"And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here."

I love the last two quotes, I think they are so great for this Easter season. It's so easy to believe in what you see, but only when we step out in faith is when we can start to see what is unseen, through faith. Let's celebrate that Jesus is real, celebrate the love he showed for us by dying on the cross for us, let's celebrate that Jesus is the only God who raised from the dead! 

Happy Easter!

p.s. if you haven't seen my husband's blog about Easter (titled Let Me Be Transparent), I recommend you read it! 

Communications 101

I minored in Communications at FSU, almost majored in it but went another way, into International Affairs...both of which have nothing to do with this blog, but I was wondering:

How do you communicate best?

Do you prefer to Text message, IM, Phone-a-friend, email, blog, or talk face to face?

Obviously it is different for different circumstances, but I was just thinking about this recently because of some different stories I have heard and situations I have been in where I would choose one over another because it was less confrontational or whatnot.

For example, I know someone who was recently asked out by text message...on a DATE! What is that??? Are we getting to the point where we fear rejection so much that rather than doing the romantic thing and asking in person (which would probably result in a more favorable answer!) people are starting to shrink back even in this way! That is a shame!

I know for me personally, if Ross asked me out on our first date through a text message I would have just laughed and disregarded his anti-gutsy/ anti-risky move.

So for all you MEN out there...please take this as your fair warning...do not ask a woman out through any form but Face to Face (I'll give phone call, a fair shot too, even though its not preferable). Step it up Men! Be a Man! Get some Guts (I would like to use another male anatomy here, but I want to keep this rated G)! DO NOT ask through IM, Text, Facebook Messaging, etc! And WOMEN, Do not accept this embarrassing form of communication.

Aside from asking a person on a date, I know it is so easy to shrink back and confront someone through an email, or other means because there is more comfort there, and you don't have to face them/ the situation in person. But I challenge you (and myself) to make sure to communicate in person or at least on the phone...for several reasons, you read things way different than you hear things. You can see things on a person's face that speaks volumes and you can can pick up tones in voices way different verbally than through words typed out.

Don't take the easy way out...save yourself some trouble and just go for the jugular in communication and do it right the first time. It will pay off in the end!

On Motherhood (part 2)

In the last post, On Motherhood (part 1) I shared my heart on how my perspective of motherhood has changed so much in the last few years and how grateful I am for being a mom. In this post I am going to attempt sharing my heart on the good, the bad and the ugly of motherhood.

The Good:
-being greeted in the morning with a big old smile and full of energy child.
The Bad:
-being greeted after a nap when he didn't rest well and won't stop crying.
The Ugly:
-being greeted in the morning with an exploded diaper of the smelliest substance known to man. What in the world did he eat?!

The Good:
-when praying for someone, seeing him have compassion and lay hands on them as well and say a loud "AMEN" or "Hallelujah"
The Bad:
-needing to pray for bumps or bruises, bad dreams, or better attitudes (in me as well as him)
The Ugly:
-in the midst of a temper tantrum praying for the grace of God to help me not lose it!

The Good:
-Talking to EVERYONE who passes by in a store.
The Bad:
-Talking to EVERYONE in the store when I am trying to go quickly/quietly.
The Ugly:
-Me trying to calm a crying baby and an obnoxious 2 yr old at the same time in front of EVERYONE at a store.

The Good:
-Seeing my child's face light up when he learns something new.
The Bad:
-Seeing my face "light up" when he refuses to learn a new concept/obedience.
The Ugly:
-Spilling the paint/coloring on surfaces/trashing the place in the midst of learning something new.

The Good: Watching my 2 yr old talk to my 3 month old and kiss him.
The Good: Watching the boys love on my husband & vice versa.
The Good: Watching them smile.
The Good: A full night nap and night of sleep.
The Good: Watching my 2 yr old act like daddy.
The Good: Watching them play with growing imagination.
The Good: Watching them grow to love God and love others.


In the midst of the bad and ugly times I find encouragement in the book of Philippians.
Even in the days where there is a lot of those bad and uglies and it's hard to make it through, as you can see the Good so outweighs the bad and the ugly.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Motherhood is always a reward.

Don't Pinch Me!

I used to be so dilligent on wearing Green on St. Patty's Day just so I wouldn't get pinched! I remember in elementary school getting pinched so hard it would leave bruises! I don't really care much for that anymore.

So is St. Patty's Day about anything other than drinking green beer? I would have to say a big fat YES! As much as that is a fun tradition, I think the real story is pretty cool. St. Patrick was the man! My favorite part is how he used the Shamrock to explain the Trinity- 3 parts in one, Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Great metaphor Mr. St. Patty!

Read a brief little article about the Real History behind St. Patty's Day! (just click on the link there)

Say Anything...

Remember the Say Anything column from the YM magazine back in your teenage days? Here is a story that is worthy of an entry.

This story takes place back in 2000 when I was a sophomore in college and just returned from a mission trip to Costa Rica. I was back at school from summer break and got sick...real sick. My tonsils were swelling so bad I couldn't breathe. I wasn't getting better no matter what antibiotics I was on. So I went to an ear, nose and throat specialist.

They decided to schedule a tonsillectomy asap. So I went back home to Clearwater and went under the knife. Had I mentioned yet that the specialist was pretty young and rather attractive. (this was before Ross and I started dating, of course) So they put me under...gave me some niiiiice anesthesia. Well, the did the surgery and the nurse went out to tell my parents that I was in recovery and told them the following.

"She must have been feeling real good from the medicine because she was hitting on the doctor pretty good!"

Oh I was mortified when my parents told me!!!! I had no idea what I was doing! So then I had to go to the follow up with the doctor a few days later! Oh it was embarrassing!

I show up to the follow up and the doctor doesn't mention anything about me hitting on him (PHEW!) but he did say this:

"We sent your tonsils to the lab because I have no idea what is wrong with you...I have never seen it before, but when I clamped them they literally exploded on me!" EWWWWW!!! I was even more embarrassed!

So we finally concluded I must have picked up some disgusting sickness when I was in Costa Rica and fell into a ditch of human waste (we'll save that story for another time)!

Fresh Nugs

You are probably wondering what Fresh Nugs are....the lady staff of ENCM here in Tally came up with this phrase for when you get a fresh revelation nugget from God.

I just got back from a few days in Panama City, visiting friends and the in-laws with the boys. It was so great and refreshing, I am blessed with some amazing in-laws. They gave me a few "hours off" of mothering so I could go to the beach and just spend time with God....man was that needed!! I did the same thing a few months after Aiden was born, and it's such a great time to soak up some rays and some Jesus...both of which I was in desperate need of! Not that I haven't gotten to spend any time on my own with God since Eli was born, but this was a good chunk of undistracted, not worried how long I would be, time. mmmm I'm still feeling it now!

So the Fresh Nugs God gave me in this window of time was as I was sitting there watching a pelican fly around like crazy just having fun soaring in the wind barely skimming the water, then diving down to get some food. It reminded me of Matt. 6: 26: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?...33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Shouldn't that be us... we should be doing our thing freely and fun, because God will provide what we need when we need it.

One of the things I have dealt with over the years is worry. I would say it is one of my life messages...overcoming worry. So I was perplexed of why God would put this passage on my heart...then I began looking at what surrounded it in context. Jesus is talking just before this worry passage about not serving both God and money, then after the worry he goes into talking about Judging Others, and finally about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking and it will be received, and doors will be open. It seemed to me that the Judging Others section didn't fit with the others that were all about God providing.

As I read the passage on Judging others (Matt. 7:1-6) it stuck out like it didn't fit...but then the fresh nugs hit...Don't Judge or you will be judged...take the speck out of your eye before dealing with the others plank...don't give to dogs or pigs what is sacred or pearls because they will just trample on it.

God will give the valuable to those who recognize the value.

We must first recognize the value then the valuable things will be given to you and then people will see the value in giving to you. This applies to SO many areas...your job, your finances, (financial partners in my case- since we raise our financial support to be in ministry full time), your relationships, people you are reaching out to...and the list goes on.

God will provide, it's his job, it's his nature. We must see the value in what God is doing in the circumstance and the value in that which we are believing for, not for just it's face value worth but for what it will create in you as well.

Caught on Film

My friend Hope visited a WAY too short of a visit to the States from Scotland with her awesome family last week and she is an amazing photographer and got to snap a few pictures of the boys! Of course Aiden had just woken up from a nap and was totally out of it so he didn't smile for any of them...but I think they still turned out great!

Here is a link to the pictures:

www.hope-cole.blogspot.com

Thank you Hope!

Quotes of the Week

"It went under my Aiden." (in reference to the basketball rolling between his legs) - Aiden

"Where is my iPod?" -Our 2 yr old son looking around the house, though he doesn't have an iPod (he also had his toy dragon listening to this imaginary iPod today).

Tax Season, Schmax Season

I thank GOD that I have an intelligent husband. I have never been good at math (my brother got all the brains in that area). So the thought of doing taxes completely freaks me out. When I was a college student I did not even have a good record of writing checks...I probably bounced more checks than I could count on my hands. Therefore when I got married, Ross and I made a deal- he would handle the finances.

Praise the Lord I got married right out of college (God's timing is perfect). I give mad props to all those single chica's out there that handle it on their own, because I never could. As I sat and watched Ross do our taxes today I realized that if I had been doing them up to now, we would be in jail right now!

Who on earth came up with our tax system? Why does it have to be so confusing? I am all about the flat tax thing, just make it simple and equally scaled for everyone, please! There are so many loop holes and "secrets" it seems like you have to know to figure out this system, I don't how most American's do it; especially the ones you see on Jay Walking on the Tonight Show!!

So, this is my tribute to my genius husband, I love you, and thank you for taking care of me so I don't have to be a jail bird!

Amy Middleton's Top 10

I'm knocking off David Letterman's top 10 if you didn't catch that. :)

I wanted to give you a little sneak peak into the world of my 2 boys, to kind of accomplish a family update as well as share why I love them so much!

10 fun things about Aiden (2 yrs old):

1. his personality reminds me of me.

2. he truly loves people (I have yet to see him scared of anyone or not like them)

3. he talks with a British accent sometimes (and I didn't coax him!)

4. he never stops (talking, moving, you name it)

5. he loves the Bible (especially page 368)

6. he loves to sing (and hear ME sing!)

7. his favorite hobbies lately are playing with cars, riding his bike, and coloring

8. he loves being outside (and swimming in the summer)

9. he eats his veggies without complaining (unlike his father!)

10. when he will be still enough to give me a hug, it's the best!

10 fun things about Eli (3 months old):

1. he came early so I didn't have to gain as much weight this pregnancy.

2. he is a chunky monkey (15 lbs already, 97th percentile!)

3. he smiles every time Aiden gets in his face

4. he has an amazing ability to projectile poop

5. he sleeps a lot (great on long car rides)

6. he has blue eyes

7. he has started to laugh

8. he is totally different than Aiden (looks and personality) 

9. he looks just like his daddy

10. he snuggles!

Couldn't be Happier!

All I have to say is Congratulations to my best friends, Kelly & Clayton Bell, on the birth of their little girl, Caroline Grace!!!!! She was born today at 2pm, 4lbs 4.3oz strong at only 32 weeks!!! She is perfect and everyone is doing well!

This is been such a long road for the Bell's, and they can finally celebrate in the birth of this precious little one! Kelly is now my hero after being on bed rest in the hospital with her head below her feet for 2 months (and weeks at home before that)! It was so worth it for this beautiful child! I couldn't be more overjoyed for them!

My heart leaps for joy when I think about it! After years of physically and emotionally hard times, several miscarriages and a little girl, Grace, being born at only 20 weeks and gracing this world with her life for only a few short hours, over a year ago, the Bell's promise from God is HERE!

It is just such an amazing thing walking out this process with them. They really are my heroes. Their faith and trust in God has ministered to me in ways I cannot express...and to know that now they get to live the promise and dream is so wonderful!

So Praise God, this is a beautiful day!

For pics of Sweet Caroline and more info visit www.claytonbellonline.com

What's in a Name?

How significant do you think your name is? As far as the meaning is concerned...I know a lot of people think it is just something to call yourself, others think it can be prophetic and bring some definition to who you are...so what is in a name?

Obviously in the Bible names are pretty significant, since the beginning God was changing names to bring definition and meaning to the person, like Abram into Abraham to prophetically speak that he was going to be the "father of many nations" and even Jesus changed people's names like Simon to Peter, meaning "the rock", because he was a foundation to the early Church.

Many people ask me why we named Aiden and Eli (Elijah) the names we chose. There is significance to their names, I believe. We had a very hard time picking names, because we wanted something that brought meaning and encouragement to their lives every time we said their names. We spent a lot of time in prayer for both of them. (Note: This is not to condemn anyone who named their child a name simply for the fact that they liked the name, this is just my story.) :)

Aiden means "Firey Spirit" and if any of you have met this child, you would agree that name fits! haha. It's so funny because when we picked that name, I had never heard of it before, just saw it in a baby name book, then later that year it happened to be the #1 baby name! (which I don't doubt is significant for this generation) But Ross and I believe that he is going to bring the Spirit of God with power and "fire" where ever he goes. I felt God confirm this name to me when we were singing "Fire Burns" a song on the Arize Live CD (shameless plug) one day.

Elijah was a prophet in the Bible and was a powerful man, amazing stories, and it is our prayer that Eli will be powerful in prayer like Elijah in the Bible and speak encouragement and life to people. But we really feel like Eli will be mighty for God. This name was confirmed one day when Ross went out to Kansas City to the IHOP and was getting prayed for from some pastors there, and they looked at him and said "you have an Elijah Spirit on you, and your boys will be like Elisha's in the Spirit". I was amazed when I heard this because that was right when we were contemplating his name. Elisha was Elijah's "disciple" kinda and did even greater things then he did, and that is our prayer for both our boys.

Anywho, I am sharing all this because I want to know what your name means, or what your children's names mean- do you feel significance in it?

by the way, Amy means "Beloved" and Ross means "pile of rocks"....hahahaha!

Joan of Arc

Here are some quotes from one powerful woman. Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl who saved the kingdom of France from English domination. 1412-1431

"I am not afraid...I was born to do this."

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”

“Act, and God will act”

“I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God's will.”

There's No Place Like Home...

I love to travel, always have, and I hope to more in my life...but all I have to say is there is No Place Like Home! There is nothing like coming home and sleeping in your own bed. As nice as our bed was in our hotel at Campus Harvest (which was the best hotel bed ever!) I am so used to my comfy one at home, nothing compares!

There are so many places I have traveled to that I say I would like to live, but reality is that I love getting to go home. In all the places I have lived in the last few years (10 different places since 1999) it only takes a few weeks for me to feel at "home" and crave to be back at after traveling for a few days/weeks. Now having 2 kids, I feel that even more! Life just gets so hectic and there is an element of comfort knowing where everything is and what to expect (no 16 foot alligators a few feet away or lizards crawling on my head). That saying is true- "Home is where the heart is", as much as I love my family and feel at "home" when I am with them, they moved while I was in college so that since of "home" isn't there anymore and now I feel settled in Tally.

After being gone for about 2 weeks, I am just wanting a home cooked meal, and my own bed please! I think my 2 year old feels the same, he walked straight to his room and crawled in his big boy bed when he got home without me saying a word! haha.

How bout you? What is Home like for you?