Thank you God for . . .

My daughter is a born shopper. She loves to go to the stores, and the mall is one of her favorite places. On Thanksgiving Day, she really wanted to get out of the house and go to the "store." We had to explain to her that it was a holiday and that all of the stores were closed. She was heartbroken. Friday night, I told her that Nini and I were going to take her to a special store Saturday morning. She was elated. Saturday morning came, and I cooked bacon, eggs, and biscuits for everyone. Shea said the blessing for breakfast, and in addition to her normal recitation, she said, "Thank you God to the stores are open today. Amen."

Nash - Six Months

Nash is six months old now. He's pretty sturdy sitting up these days, and he LOVES his sister. Shea is crazy about him too. She's a great big sister. Nash lights up at people he recognizes when they enter the room, and he's rolling and scooting all over the place.

Oh, and by the way, he's HUGE! He's 22 pounds, and he's 29 inches long. He's in the 97th percentile in height and weight, and he's wearing size 12 month clothes. Shea lasted 11 months in her infant car seat, but Nash has already outgrown it. Yikes!

I'm happy to say that I'm still breastfeeding him. No formula for this little guy. He's not doing well with bottles at daycare (normally takes 1 to 3 oz. of each of his 3 bottles), but as you can see, he's not starving. That's because he's making up for it at night. He is still waking up at least twice during the night to eat. We started him on some solids. He doesn't eat much of them yet, but that's fine because I still want breastmilk to be his primary source of nutrition. We're just getting him used to some new textures and flavors and using solids as complementary feeding.

It's gameday!

College football season is here! Let the good times begin! We rooted for Baylor on Thursday night. She loves hollering "Sic 'em Bears!" Sadly, Baylor didn't play as well as we hoped. We really do love college football around our house, and here's some pictures of us enjoying the first Saturday of games. Sic em Bears and Go Trojans!

Shea and Nash weren't really interested in College Gameday.



They were interested in cuddling with Mommy. :)



Do we have enough USC spirit around our house?

Daddy with his son. I hope for Jon's sake that he'll someday be a Trojan. :)

To Spank or Not to Spank? Part 1

Discipline strategy is a hot topic among parents of young children. Amazingly, after searching Scripture, praying, conversing, and seeking wise counsel, many of us have come up with completely differing views on the subject. My friend, Heather, brought the subject up on her blog, and I'm going to take a few posts to explain my views on the issue. I think this would be an incredibly long post were I to flesh it all out in one setting, so this is just the first installment of many.

My opinion on the matter has been shaped by my experiences as a child, by my experiences as a parent, by wise counsel, and more importantly, by Scripture and prayer. Therefore, I want to first offer some Scriptures relating to discipline without any commentary. Later, I'll share how these Scriptures have shaped my ideas relating to discipline.

Hebrews 12:1-13
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Revelation 3:19
[To the church in Laodicea,] [t]hose whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

1 Corinthians 11: 27-32
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Proverbs 19:18
Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Proverbs 23:13-14
Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

Proverbs 13:24
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Job 5:17-18
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Exodus 19:12
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Living Hope Church Picnic

We had a great time at our church picnic on Sunday. We enjoyed eating and hanging out with our friends. Shea and her buddies had fun blowing bubbles, and they were thrilled to head over to the sprinkler park. Joey (aka The Ice Cream Man) bought everyone popsicles.