Grandma & Grandpa's House

We spent a couple weekends with my parents at their house in Rome this month. It is such a beautiful place and Carter loves it there. He spent about 90% of his days in the pool with Grandma and the other 10% riding the tractor outside with Grandpa.  We had the best time.  We fed the neighbor's horses, walked around, watched football, ate outside, looked at the stars at night... and Micah had his first dip in the pool.  He also napped with a sweet yellow keepsake baby blanket that my great aunt knit for my mom when she was having babies.  The weather this time of year was a perfect early fall temperature. There is a huge Ash tree toward the back of their yard right next to a small stream.  Carter loves swinging and throwing the rope around underneath its branches.  Its probably my favorite place to photograph him.  I don't know for how long my parents will live there but, while they do, we are treasuring our visits and the blessing that it is. I know we will love to look back on these photos someday.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in Him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Brothers

Micah will be 4 months soon.  Fastest four months of our lives.  I don't know but I am guessing time flies by even faster when you have another child.  Carter is settling into his new role as big brother and adjusting better than I ever thought he would.  In the beginning he would love to cuddle and hold Micah... he couldn't get enough of that.  Now when he holds Micah he says "Whoa, dat big baby." or "Silly Micah!" when Micah squirms and moves in his arms.  Pretty soon Micah will be too big for Carter to hold.  And soon after that they will be wrestling on the floor together.

Days that we don't have a lot going on are full of quiet sweet moments with the three of us.  Carter helps me with Micah in different toddler friendly ways.  Sometimes he gets me a diaper or picks out a onesie for Micah.  Other times if Micah is fussy, Carter will sing him a song or hand him a toy.  My favorite serenade of Carter's recently was when he started off singing "twinkle twinkle little star" and then broke into the Dinotrux theme song.  Carter can definitely be a rambunctious little guy and we have to remind him to be gentle with Micah at times, but overall, he is so sweet to his brother.  There are times when he asks us to play with him but he is learning that Micah needs us a lot more and he is getting much better at playing independently. It hurts my heart a little to not be able to spend as much one on one time with each of them as I would like, but I guess that is just part of having multiple children.  One day they won't want or need us as much as they do now... so I'm trying to enjoy these ages and soak up the sweetness of it. We are all learning together. 

Carter made Micah laugh for the first time! We were sitting eating breakfast and Carter was smacking away... Micah was watching Carter's every move and broke out into the cutest little giggle.  I can only imagine the silliness that these two boys will get into in the future.  It makes my heart burst to see the love and affection between them.  I know in the future they will argue and fuss like most siblings do, but I also know they will have a special bond that will be unique to them. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving us the gift of sons and giving them the gift of brothers.